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THE ITALIAN 
FAMILY ROBINSON 


JAMES LEE, M.D. 

II 

DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS 
NEW YORK CITY 

AND 

JAMES T. CAREY, A.M. 

PRINCIPAL OF PUBLIC SCHOOL NO. 110 
BROOKLYN, NEW YORK 


ILLUSTRAim 






D. C. HEATH AND COMPANY 


BOSTON 


NEW YORK 


CHICAGO 







COPYRIGHT, 1916, BY 
D. C. HEATH AND COMPANY 



I C 6 



<. 

c 

C 


APR 19 1916 " 

©CI,A4285SH) ^ 


To THE BOYS AND GIRLS 

WHO ENJOY- TALES OF ADVENTURE, WHO KNOW THE VALUE 
OF WISE COUNSEL AND EXAMPLE, WHO LOVE TO OBTAIN 
KNOWLEDGE OF STRANGE AND DISTANT PARTS OF THE 
WORLD, WHO APPRECIATE WHAT RESPECT AND OBEDI- 
ENCE TO PARENTS AND ELDERS WILL BRING TO THEIR 
FUTURE LIVES, THE AUTHORS WHO HAVE TRANS- 
LATED AND ADAPTED THE ITALIAN FAMILY ROBINSON 
DEDICATE THIS* VOLUME. THEY TRUST THAT 
THE BOYS AND GIRLS WHO READ THE BOOK 
WILL LEARN MANY USEFUL LESSONS 
FROM IT, AND DERIVE AS MUCH 
PLEASURE FROM ITS PAGES 
AS WAS FELT IN PREPAR- 
ING THE BOOK FOR 
THEIR PERUSAL 




TABLE OF CONTENTS 

PAGE 

I. On the Way to Australia 1 

II. The Crew Abandon the Ship 9 

III. Land is Sighted 28 

IV. Preparations for Landing 40 

V. The First Trip to the Island 48 

VI. The Wreck is Abandoned 54 

VII. Housekeeping on the Island 62 

VIII. A Busy Day 69 

IX. Salvator Tells a Story 82 

X. Salvator and Cyrus Explore 117 

XI. Salvator and Cyrus Select a New Camp . 183 

XII. The Explorers Return to Camp .... 141 

XIII. Life in the New Camp 153 

XIV. The Enemy Appears in Force 170 

XV. The Attack 177 

XVI. The Rescue 190 



THE 

ITALIAN FAMILY KOBINSON 


CHAPTER I 

ON THE WAY TO AUSTRALIA 

The Tirreno, a fine ship with a crew of twenty 
sailors and seven passengers, was overtaken on 
the high seas by a severe tempest. The storm 
had lasted six days and showed no signs of 
abating. 

At the time our story opens, the wind, hav- 
ing driven the ship far out of its course, first to 
the south for three days and then for the next 
three days toward the east, was blowing with 
great force towards the north-east. No one, not 
even the captain, could tell upon what coast 
the ship was being driven. All the masts save 
one had been broken off, the ship was leaking 
in many places, and the sailors, worn out with 
work and constant watching, had almost given 
up hope. 


2 THE ITALIAN FAMILY ROBINSON 

The captain of the Tirreno, an expert officer 
and navigator who at critical moments took 
charge of the ship himself, was standing by the 
wheel, directing the sailors in their work. During 
a lull in the storm, he was joined by two men, 
one a youth of sixteen, the other an old and 
weather-beaten sailor. The long gray hair of the 
latter was blown about by the wind as his eyes 
vainly strove to pierce the darkness. 

Just then an immense wave struck the vessel 
with gigantic force. 

“Salvator, we are lost!” shouted the youth, 
grasping the old sailor by the arm. 

“Do not be afraid, my boy,” replied old 
Salvator, “our ship is still as firm as a rock. 
See how nobly she recovers from the shock of 
the wave!” 

“Yes, yes, Salvator, I believe you. The 
Tirreno is a good ship, solid and well built, but 
nevertheless I should prefer to be on land safe 
from those terrible waves that seem bound to 
smash her into splinters.” 

“It certainly looks as if they might, my boy,” 
said Salvator. “But let wind and wave do their 
worst. With a ship like the Tirreno, a com- 
mander like Captain Sturla, and our excellent 
crew, we can afford to defy the elements.” 


ON THE WAY TO AUSTRALIA 


3 


“But are not ships as strong as this and with 
as able crews sometimes wrecked?” inquired the 
youth. 

“Our lives are in the hands of God,” answered 
Salvator gravely. “Good ships have been lost 
not only during violent storms, but even in good 
weather when the sailors felt perfectly safe. We 
have done everything possible to save the Tir- 
reno from the. fury of the waves. The rest is 
now in the hands of God.” 

Just then the ship pitched so violently that 
Cyrus — for that was the youth’s name — was 
almost thrown to the deck. 

“You had better join your mother in the 
cabin below, Cyrus. It is not safe for you 
to stay here longer. Take firm hold of the 
ropes,” Salvator added, as Cyrus turned to obey. 
“That’s right. Bravo! Be careful not to fall.” 

Thanks to Salvator’s warnings, Cyrus reached 
the companion-way safely, after a dangerous trip 
across the deck, and disappeared below. 

While the Tirreno continues to battle against 
the wind and the sea, let us get better acquainted 
with the old sailor. 

Born on the Island of Sicily, Salvator at a 
very early age shipped as a cabin boy on board 
a three-masted sailing vessel. He had sailed 


4 THE ITALIAN FAMILY ROBINSON 

pretty much all around the world, now under 
one captain and now under another, before he 
reached the age when he was drafted into the 
army to do his military service. Having paid 
this debt to his country, he again went to sea, 
this time on board a merchant vessel. Wherever 
he sailed he was respected and loved by all 
who knew him, because of his sturdy honesty, 
his upright character, and his faithfulness to 
duty. 

Shortly before our story begins, Salvator 
shipped on the Tirreno, where he occupied the 
post of boatswain, although his skill and experi- 
ence were such that he was entirely competent 
to take full command of the ship. In fact, the 
captain frequently showed his appreciation of 
Salvator’s ability by consulting him. 

Salvator’s mind was a perfect storehouse of 
knowledge and information, — the result of his 
practical training and his habit of observation. 
He could tell hundreds of stories, many so strange 
that , they seemed incredible. But Salvator’s re- 
spect for the truth was so well known that no 
one ever doubted his word, no matter how im- 
probable it seemed. 

To complete Salvator’s good qualities, he was 
of a profoundly religious turn of mind; but. 


ON THE WAY TO AUSTRALIA 5 

while he followed the precepts of his religion 
faithfully, he was nevertheless entirely free from 
bigotry.. He was absolutely confident at all 
times that Providence directed even the most 
trifling events of life. 

Captain Sturla, in addition to being a good 
sailor and a skilful navigator, was a man of 
excellent character. He was liberal with kind 
words and of unfailing good humor. It was his 
pleasure to see smiling faces about him at all 
times. He was well liked by his sailors and 
highly esteemed by the passengers and others 
who knew him. He also enjoyed the confidence 
of his employers, the owners of the Tirreno. 

Unfortunately, as much could not be said of 
Clermont, the second in command. This man, 
who did his duty faithfully and was cool and calm 
in the presence of danger, was noted for severity 
and for the violence of his temper. The passen- 
gers and even his fellow officers could barely 
tolerate him, while the crew detested him in 
their hearts, although they obeyed him. The 
captain, nevertheless, had full confidence in his 
ability, for Clermont was a thorough seaman. 
He could not, however, regard him with that 
affection which he was disposed to feel for all 
those with whom he came in contact. 


THE ITALIAN FAMILY ROBINSON 


Because of Clermont’s bad temper, seven of 
the sailors deserted the ship at an English port. 
This meant that the twenty remaining men of 
the crew had to do not only their own work, 
but the work of the deserters. Unfortunately 
— as we shall soon see — Captain Sturla, fearing 
to lose time which was valuable to his employers, 
did not try to trace and bring back the deserters, 
thinking it wiser to continue the voyage short- 
handed. 

On this particular trip there were only seven 
passengers, all members of one family. 

Doctor Paul, the head of the family, was born 
in Milan, Italy. His father, a well-to-do mer- 
chant, educated him for the medical profession, 
but later called him to take an active part in 
his own business. When twenty -five years of 
age. Doctor Paul married a charming and beauti- 
ful young lady and, at the time our story begins, 
his family included four children. 

Of these children Cyrus, the eldest, was barely 
sixteen years of age; the next, Giselda, was a 
sweet tempered and lovable girl of twelve; 
Junius, seven, was an impulsive, thoughtless, but 
generous boy; and Marie, the baby, was little 
more than a year old. 

A young woman, Selena by name, accompanied 


ON THE WAY TO AUSTRALIA 


7 


the family as nurse, not only for Marie, but for 
Madame Paul who at this time was in very poor 
health. 

Some time after the Doctor’s marriage his 
father had died suddenly, a misfortune that was 
undoubtedly hastened by business troubles, the 
existence of which he had carefully concealed. 
It appeared that several months before his death 
he had lost a large sum of money, through no 
fault of his own, but rather through the dis- 
honesty of a firm in Sydney, Australia, with 
whom he had had large business dealings. Fear- 
ing that the news of such a serious loss would 
injure his credit in the business world, he kept his 
loss to himself, believing that he would soon be 
able to replace his business on a safe, if not on 
an extensive, footing. He told his troubles to 
no one, not even to his son, who was not taken 
into his confidence until much later. 

After the death of his father, the news of the 
Australian loss was confirmed and Doctor Paul 
found himself in somewhat difficult circum- 
stances. He felt bound in honor to settle his 
father’s affairs, and although this was a long 
and troublesome task, he was finally able to 
pay his father’s creditors in full. When every- 
thing was settled, he found himself in possession 


8 THE ITALIAN FAMILY ROBINSON 

of some twenty thousand lire, or about four 
thousand dollars. 

Soon after this, he took his family to London, 
where he had some good friends and where he 
stayed for several weeks, uncertain as to the 
future, but determined not to return to Milan, 
where so many misfortunes had overtaken them. 

While in London Doctor Paul received a letter 
from his uncle urging him to go to Australia. 
Although the letter gave no hope of recovering 
any money from the people who had cheated 
his father, the uncle kindly offered to receive 
Doctor Paul as a friend and business associate, 
and begged him to set out as soon as possible. 

Doctor Paul arranged at once with the captain 
of the Tirreno — then about to sail for New 
South Wales — for passage for himself and family, 
and two days later the ship left England with all 
sails set, well freighted with all kinds of merchan- 
dise and with all the supplies needed for a long 
voyage. 

Now that we have made the acquaintance of 
those on board the Tirreno, we shall go on with 
our story. 


CHAPTER II 


THE CREW ABANDON THE SHIP 

The next morning, the long and violent storm 
just described ceased as suddenly as it had begun, 
being followed by several days of fine weather. 
Cyrus spent much of his time on deck, and all 
seemed in the best of spirits, save only Salvator, 
who, far from sharing in the general content, 
appeared to be very thoughtful and serious. 

“Salvator, why are you so solemn.^” asked the 
Captain, at last, tired of seeing his boatswain 
in so serious a frame of mind. 

“I am not able to explain just what I feel. 
Captain,” was the answer. “But I do not like 
this continued calm. I think it is the forerunner 
of another storm, even more terrible than the 
one we have just escaped — and from which we 
have not yet recovered,” he added, pointing 
sadly to the battered deck. 

Captain Sturla cast a look over the quarter 
deck, which was still littered with broken planks 
and tangled cordage, and then went into his 


10 


THE ITALIAN FAMILY ROBINSON 


cabin. When he reappeared, a minute later, his 
face was as serious as his boatswain’s. 

“I am afraid you are right, Salvator,” he said. 
“Never before have I seen the barometer fall 
so rapidly in so short a time. It looks as though 
we must again put ourselves on the defensive. 
The squall — ” 

“A squall! We shall have much more than 
a squall,” exclaimed Salvator. “And we have 
not a moment to lose, if we are to be ready,” he 
added. 

In fact the preparations ordered by the Cap- 
tain had scarcely been completed when the wind 
commenced to blow with great violence, lashing 
the sea into enormous waves which lifted the 
ship like a feather on their foamy crests. 

In a short time, the Tirreno was again driven 
out of her course. The working of the ship be- 
came more and more difficult for the weary 
crew. The Captain’s voice could scarcdy be 
heard in the midst of the uproar caused by the 
fury of the wind and the waves that threatened 
to swamp the ship at any moment. 

“What is your opinion, Salvator asked the 
Captain. “Do you think the storm will con- 
tinue like this much longer.^” 

“For a long time yet. Captain,” answered the 


THE CREW ABANDON THE SHIP 11 

old sailor. “But we have more to fear from the 
sky than from the ” 

The sturdy old sailor did not have time to 
finish. His sentence was cut short by a blinding 
flash of lightning, accompanied by a crash of 
thunder that shook the vessel from stem to stern. 
The one remaining mast had been struck and had 
fallen, encumbering the entire deck, and a few 
minutes later a column of flame burst from the 
wreckage. 

All was now confusion and fright on board. 
The sailors stationed at the wheel, half suffo- 
cated by the smoke, dazed by the now continu- 
ous lightning, and nearly deafened by the crashes 
of thunder, were as white as death. Before long, 
they deserted their post in a panic and the vessel, 
left to itself, lurched wildly about, while immense 
waves washed the deck, entering the hold through 
the hatchways. The fire, however, soon died out. 
The heavy seas had at least done that one good 
service to the Tirreno! 

The captain ordered all the sailors to the deck, 
where he called the roll. Six were missing. The 
fury of the waves had swept them from the decks 
into the yawning abyss of the sea. 

Fortunately, however, sailors are not easily 
discouraged, even in the presence of the greatest 


12 


THE ITALIAN FAMILY ROBINSON 


dangers and misfortunes. They are always ready 
to battle with the elements and to meet bravely 
the many perils of their calling, even when there 
is but little hope of success. So, neither the sad 
loss of their comrades nor their own perilous 
condition disheartened the brave mariners of the 
Tirreno. 

Captain Sturla did not lose courage even for 
an instant. Everything that his skill and ex- 
perience could suggest was done to save the ship 
in her hour of danger. 

The mast which had been struck by lightning 
was soon cut away by the sailors and replaced 
by a temporary one. For the sails torn to shreds 
by the gale, others were gradually substituted, 
and much of the other damage was repaired in 
a very short time. A joyful hurrah burst from 
the sailors’ throats when the ship, once more 
obedient to the wheel, started again on her 
course. 

Were they now safe.^ No one dared say so, 
but hope animated the breasts of all, including 
the passengers, who had been sustained and 
cheered by the inspiring courage of the captain 
and Salvator. 

Madame Paul, the wife of Doctor Paul, who 
was ill when they embarked, was now in such a 


THE CREW ABANDON THE SHIP 13 

condition of weakness as to cause Doctor Paul 
the gravest fears. The anguish she experienced 
during the two storms was such as to render 
her, much of the time, unconscious of the danger 
that threatened her and her family. 

During the night the vessel sailed amid the 
deepest darkness, but with a favorable wind. 
This ceased at dawn, when the sea became calm. 
The sailors, profiting by the fine weather, applied 
themselves with renewed energy and courage 
to the repairing of the damage done by the 
storm. 

Captain Sturla, Officer Clermont, and Salvator 
encouraged the men in every possible way, taking 
every precaution that nothing should be neglected. 
Whoever has traveled much on sailing vessels 
can easily imagine what terrible consequences 
may result from the negligence of even an ordi- 
nary seaman. 

The sun was already high when Doctor Paul 
and Cyrus appeared on deck. It would not be 
easy to describe their feelings as they gazed 
upon the charred stump of the foremast and 
the broken hatchways. Cyrus in particular was 
utterly downcast. 

“How could so much damage be done in 
so short a time!” he exclaimed. “How lucky 


14 


THE ITALIAN FAMILY ROBINSON 


that mother is not in a condition to come on 
deck, for the sight would almost frighten her to 
death.” 

Salvator who had heard Cyrus’s last words 
drew near, saying, “Do you know, I believe that, 
on the contrary, it would do her good to see all 
that has been done to save the ship.” 

“Then you do believe that the ship can be 
saved, after all.^” asked Cyrus. 

“With God’s help and with courage and com- 
mon sense everything is possible to man,” replied 
Salvator, quietly. 

“I try to believe that,” said Cyrus. “And 
then, too, we may be rescued by some other 
vessel or driven by the wind upon the shore of 
some unknown island. But I cannot see how 
the ship can ever reach Sydney, without masts, 
without sails, as we are . . .” 

“Without masts and sails!” exclaimed Salva- 
tor. “The stump of the mainmast still remains 
and the torn sails are being replaced with new 
ones, as you can see.” 

“But the ship cannot sail as well as she did 
before,” said Cyrus, anxiously. 

“No, but nevertheless before night you will 
see the Tirreno making good progress, thanks 
to the temporary sails, which, while not so 


THE CREW ABANDON THE SHIP 


15 


powerful as the old ones, will enable us to profit 
by any favorable winds.” 

“I know you must be right,” said Cyrus. 
“But,” he added, shaking his head, “it seems 
almost too good to be true just now.” 

“It is true, nevertheless,” said Salvator, smil- 
ing. “In place of the mast and spars we have 
lost, we will put up the others which we always 
have on hand in case of disaster. So that, 
leaving out the possibility of a new storm, we 
shall arrive in Sydney later than we expected, 
to be sure, but we shall reach there, finally, you 
can depend upon it.” 

Turning to Doctor Paul, Salvator added in a 
low tone, “I can tell you that I am much more 
disturbed by the smallness of our crew than by 
the damage done to the vessel.” 

“Do you really believe that the shortage in 
the crew is so serious.^” asked Doctor Paul. 

“Well,” said Salvator, “we ought to be thirty 
and we are only fourteen, — which means more 
than double labor, therefore, for every man. 
This of itself would not amount to so much if 
we were not all obliged to work at the same 
time. But there are times when one man can- 
not do the work of two, no matter how strong 
and willing he may be.” 


16 


THE ITALIAN FAMILY ROBINSON 


“Let us hope that circumstances will favor 
us,” said Doctor Paul. “The weather looks now 
as if it would continue fair.” 

“I wish I could think so, Doctor,” said Salva- 
tor. “I do not like the looks of that bank of 
clouds yonder,” he added, “and I shouldn’t 
be at all surprised if inside of a few hours the 
Tirreno should run into a new storm.” 

“How terrible the sea is!” murmured Cyrus. 

“More terrible than you know,” said the old 
sailor. “Still, those who have chosen to follow 
the sea for a living love it and never willingly 
leave it. Ask the sailors who have just seen 
six of their comrades disappear forever beneath 
the waves. Ask them if they are tired of the 
sea. They will tell you that the greater the 
danger of their work the dearer it is to them.” 

“And do you feel that way, too.^” asked 
Doctor Paul. 

“Yes, Doctor,” replied Salvator. “I believe 
that the more a man is exposed to danger the 
more he feels it necessary to keep close to God; 
and therefore to my idea we sailors enjoy a 
privilege peculiar to ourselves. A mere deck 
separates us from the ocean’s depths; but above 
us watches a Father, all-good and all-powerful, 
whosie protection through life is necessary to us 


THE CREW ABANDON THE SHIP 17 

all and who will not fail us at the hour of death. 
And so, what difference can it make if the deck 
should break into bits and the deep water swallow 
us up, since God is always with us.?” 

“You have taught me a lesson, Salvator,” 
said Doctor Paul, clasping the old sailor’s hand. 
“I thank you for it. And you, my son,” he 
added, turning to Cyrus, “I hope you will never 
forget these beautiful words.” 

Just then, duty called Salvator to another 
part of the ship, and Doctor Paul and Cyrus 
descended to the cabin to rejoin the rest of their 
family. 

All that day the sailors worked busily. The 
head carpenter and his assistants occupied their 
time in putting up what are known as jury 
masts, while the remainder of the crew devoted 
their attention to renewing the sails. 

About sunset, just as Salvator had foreseen, 
the wind began to blow a gale and the waves 
to rise threateningly. Soon, in spite of every 
precaution, the water made its way into the hold 
so rapidly that the crew was obliged to abandon 
all other work and take , to the pumps. The 
storm increased in fury from hour to hour and at 
the end of two long days, the sailors, absolutely 
worn out, were obliged to abandon the pumps. 


18 THE ITALIAN FAMILY ROBINSON 

The frightful rolling of the vessel left no doubt 
as to the amount of water that had been shipped, 
and discouragement at last began to master the 
crew. Then, next morning came a new misfortune 
in the shape of an accident to Captain Sturla. 

He was on the bridge giving orders when he 
suddenly fell to the deck, unconscious and bleed- 
ing profusely from a wound in the forehead. 
A pulley connected with the rigging of one of 
the masts had parted suddenly from its fast- 
ening, striking the good Captain on the head 
and causing a most serious wound. 

The crew, seeing their captain in this condition, 
became utterly demoralized. Not wishing to be 
commanded by Clermont, whom in their hearts 
they feared and disliked, they with one accord 
stopped work and gathering near the bridge 
began to debate among themselves what was best 
to be done under the circumstances. They were 
plainly on the verge of mutiny. 

Clermont approached them. 

“Back to the pumps!” he ordered. 

The men looked at him impudently and de- 
fiantly. 

“Instead of ordering us to the pumps, you had 
better give us a glass of brandy all round,” 
shouted one of the sailors, stepping forward. 


THE CREW ABANDON THE SHIP 


19 


“If the Captain could speak,” said another, 
“he would not refuse us; I am sure of that.” 

“Instead of working, then, you want to drink!” 
exclaimed Clermont in a hoarse voice. 

At this point, Salvator, who had been trying 
to bind up the Captain’s wound, joined the 
group. 

“Comrades,” said he, addressing the men, “the 
wind has gone down somewhat and good weather 
must be near. Now, with a little more labor and 
a little more good will ” 

“All our labor and all our good will will not 
prevent the vessel from sinking inside of a few 
hours,” interrupted one of the sailors. 

“Perhaps not,” said Clermont coldly. “It is 
quite possible that the condition of the Tirreno 
is desperate. But that is no reason for giving 
up now. There can be no talk of brandy, in 
any case. A drunken man is no longer a man 
but a useless brute. I command, now, and I 
say. No liquor!^’ 

“We should like to know,” said one of the 
boldest of the sailors, “how you are going to pre- 
vent us from drinking.” 

“Well,” answered Clermont, “two resolute men 
can do a great deal. I may perhaps say three, 
as our passenger will undoubtedly join Salvator 


20 THE ITALIAN FAMILY ROBINSON 

and myself when it comes to a matter of sup- 
pressing a mutiny. Besides,” continued Cler- 
mont, “we are provided with good firearms, . . . 
But why lose time over matters of small ac- 
count when we should be working to save our- 
selves.^” 

“Our united forces will not be sufficient to 
save the Tirreno,^’ muttered the men. “Listen! 
Hear that fearful* gurgle! That is the sound of 
the water pouring into the hold. What can 
pumps do against that torrent.^” 

“There may be little hope of saving the ship,” 
said Salvator, “but a life boat in good condition 
is one way to safety. I know, too, that both our 
life boat and the long boat are still on the davits, 
from which they can be lowered in the wink of 
an eye. We cannot be very far from the islands 
of Coringa. Let us load both boats with as many 
provisions as they can hold. Then when we are 
obliged to abandon the ship, we can take our 
chances in the boats. In this way we may per- 
haps save ourselves.” 

“Or die!” grumbled the men. 

“But at least we can say then that we have 
done our duty, — that we have done everything 
that was humanly possible to save the ship and 
ourselves. And may Heaven help us!” said 


THE CREW ABANDON THE SHIP 


21 


Salvator. “Meanwhile I shall notify the pas- 
sengers at once,” he added. 

“Notify them of what.^^” said Clermont 
brusquely. 

“To make their preparations to leave the ship.” 

“We cannot possibly take them along,” said 
Clermont. “The two boats are hardly big enough 
for the crew.” 

“And the Captain who lies there wounded.^” 
exclaimed Salvator, “will you abandon him, too.^” 

“We’ll take him along no matter what hap- 
pens,” shouted one of the sailors. 

“Well said!” echoed the others in chorus. 

“Very well,” said Clermont. “We shall take 
the Captain with us, but we cannot take the 
passengers. I am sorry, but after all charity 
begins at home. That matter is settled. Now 
my lads,” he added briskly, “to work at once, 
loading the boats! Bring water and provisions, 
my sextant and compass, and a half dozen mus- 
kets and ammunition.” 

The sailors, thoroughly satisfied with this plan, 
began to work with a will. Salvator alone did 
not join them, devoting all his attention to the 
wounded Captain whom he left only to sound 
the water in the hold. He had intentionally 
said nothing for or against the proposed plan. 


22 THE ITALIAN FAAIILY ROBINSON 

nor had he made the slightest attempt to per- 
suade Clermont to take the passengers with him 
in the boats. 

The loading of the boats was nearly finished. 
When the sailors were shipping the last barrel of 
water, Doctor Paul appeared on deck. 

“What is the meaning of all this bustle.^” he 
asked Salvator. Then, catching sight of Captain 
Sturla, still senseless on the deck: “They have 
not killed their commander.^” he cried. “Why 
did you not tell me before.^” he added, as he 
stooped to render what aid he could to his 
friend. 

A slight examination convinced him that the 
Captain’s wound was not very serious. 

“No, sir,” said Salvator. “The poor Captain 
was struck by a falling pulley. And the bustle 
you see can readily be explained. The sailors 
are preparing to leave the ship.” 

“Do we then abandon the ship.^” asked Doctor 
Paul, in surprise. 

“‘Not we, sir, but they,'' answered Salvator, 
quietly. 

“‘They’.^^ Yfho?" 

“Clermont and the crew.” 

“What! Do they intend to leave us behind on 
a sinking ship.^” he cried. “They cannot be so 


THE CREW ABANDON THE SHIP 23 

heartless as to leave my wife and children behind, 
to certain death!” 

While talking, Doctor Paul was hurriedly bind- 
ing up the Captain’s wound, but he could not 
conceal his anxiety for the safety of his family. 

“I do not wish to excuse them. Doctor,” 
said Salvator, “but self-preservation is the first 
law of Nature, and that is the law which governs 
them now. When one’s life is in danger, one is 
tempted to think solely of himself. These men 
are no more cruel or selfish than they think it 
necessary to be. If there were more boats or 
larger ones they would not abandon anyone.” 

“My poor wife and children! the good Selena!” 
murmured Doctor Paul, paying no attention to 
Salvator’s explanations. “Can I possibly allow 
them to be abandoned.^ No, I shall talk to 
these men. I shall tell them.” . . . 

“But Clermont is in command,” said Salvator. 
“He will not permit anyone to embark except 
the crew. Of that you may be certain. Cler- 
mont is the one who proposed to abandon you. 
He was the first to point out that there was not 
room enough in the boats to take you and your 
family. For that matter, I believe that you are 
safer here; otherwise, I should have taken your 
part more strongly than I did.” 


24 THE ITALIAN FAMILY ROBINSON 

“Then, is there no hope left for us?” cried 
Doctor Paul, in despair. 

“Man should never despair,” said Salvator. 
“No matter how near death he may be, the hand 
of God can always save him. We must have 
faith in God, Doctor, who will dispose of us as He 
thinks best.” 

“Of us? Are you not going with them?” 
asked the Doctor, in surprise. 

“No, sir,” answered Salvator, firmly. “I have 
decided to stay with you and your family. The 
sailors intend to take the Captain with them. 
They asked me to go, but I intend to re- 
main.” 

“To die with us!” exclaimed Doctor Paul. 

“No; not to die with you but to help you and 
your family to safety, if God wills,” was Salva- 
tor’s reply. “I am old and for years have been 
ready to die. What does a year more or less 
matter to me? But down in the cabin are four 
young children, whose career in this world has 
barely begun. Every tree must produce its own 
fruit and no one should pluck away the blossom. 
It is your duty. Doctor, to save your wife and 
family and it is mine to help you.” 

Just then two sailors approached them. Lift- 
ing the Captain, one by the head and the other 


THE CREW ABANDON THE SHIP 25 

by the feet, they prepared to carry him to the 
boat. 

“Come on, Salvator,” said one of them; “the 
boats are ready. There’s no time to lose.” 

“I am going to stay,” said the old boatswain, 
calmly. 

“Are you mad.^” exclaimed the sailor. 

“No, but my mind is made up,” was the reply. 
“I have a favor to ask: It is that, if God should 
be pleased to enable you to reach land, you will 
make known the spot where you have left the 
Tirreno, so that help may be sent to us.” 

Clermont, who had meanwhile approached, 
shook his head sorrowfully. “When help arrives, 
no matter how quickly, it will be too late, 
Salvator. You cannot hope for anything by 
remaining. Do not insist upon losing your own 
life. Come with us!” Then, leaning toward 
Salvator, he whispered, “Do you not see how 
the ship is settling in the water The hold of 
the Tirreno is nearly full, already. What can you 
hope for?” 

“To die at my post,” replied Salvator, resolutely. 

“At your post?” repeated Clermont. 

“Those in charge of a ship should not aban- 
don it until they have placed in security those 
entrusted to their care,” said Salvator, firmly. 



• • f 


THE TWO BOATS SAILED AWAY FROM THE VESSEL 


THE CREW ABANDON THE SHIP 27 

‘‘But that is the Captain’s business, not yours!” 
exclaimed Clermont. 

“Do not lose time trying to convince me. 
May God protect you, Clermont,” said Salvator. 

And lifting his cap, Salvator saluted his supe- 
rior officer, who, somewhat moved, it is true, 
slipped into one of the waiting boats and sat 
down beside the body of the Captain, his head 
in his hands. A few minutes later the two boats 
sailed away from the vessel, steering in a south- 
easterly direction. 


CHAPTER III 


LAND IS SIGHTED 

Salvator, standing on the deck with his arms 
folded, could not for several moments withdraw 
his gaze from the boats which, under the sturdy 
strokes of the sailors, drew rapidly away. 

Doctor Paul, too, followed with his eyes the 
course of the boats until they were lost to sight. 
With the disappearance of the crew he aban- 
doned all hope of saving himself and family. 

The scene he had witnessed but a few moments 
before returned to his mind. He had been so 
stunned that he could say nothing to Clermont or 
the sailors that might have shaken their deter- 
mination; nothing that might have made them 
hesitate to carry out the cruel plan they had 
decided upon with respect to him and his family. 

Salvator was the first to break silence. 

“They hope to save themselves and at the 
same time they look upon us as lost,” he said. 

“And they are probably right,” replied Doctor 
Paul, sadly. 


LAND IS SIGHTED 


29 


“Who knows?” said Salvator, with an effort to 
appear cheerful. “Does there not exist above us 
a Superior Being who will decide our fate?” 

“True. But unless God works a miracle in 
our favor — and what right have we to expect a 
miracle ! — what chance of safety have we on 
board this ship, dismasted and on the point of 
sinking? Tell me, my good Salvator!” 

The latter made no answer but, going to the 
stern, took hold of the wheel and, having scanned 
the horizon for several minutes, he put the 
Tirreno before the wind and fastened the helm. 
A few minutes later his eyes brightened. 

“I firmly believe,” he cried, “that the means 
of safety of which you spoke a little while ago 
will soon come our way.” 

“God grant it may!” exclaimed Doctor Paul, 
fervently, “for I really have not the courage to 
bear further misfortune. Believe me, Salvator, 
I do not know how to break the news of our des- 
perate condition to Madame Paul. Nevertheless, 
it must be done, if only to prepare her for what 
may follow.” 

“Before going down into the cabin, let us face 
the situation, speaking frankly and clearly, as 
man to. man,” said Salvator. “Our condition is 
grave, but not so desperate as you believe. The 


30 


THE ITALIAN FAMILY ROBINSON 


hold is half filled with water, to be sure, but it is 
not inereasing. Of this I am convinced, as I 
have made several soundings. If the hold had 
continued to fill, the ship would have sunk before 
night. The sea is now almost calm and the wind 
has nearly died away. This state of things may 
last for some time. 

‘‘Now, we are sailing in a portion of the 
ocean in which there are several archipelagoes. 
With good judgment, we may be able to reach 
one of the numerous islands and save not only 
our lives, but sufficient provisions and other 
things to enable us to live comfortably until 
the help I asked Clermont to send us can 
arrive.’’ 

“Wfill he help us, do you think.^” asked Doctor 
Paul. 

“Even if he should not, we can, with the help 
of God, at least keep ourselves alive for a 
while,” said Salvator. 

“What must we do.^” asked the Doctor. 

“First of all. Doctor, quiet your own fears. 
Try to appear as cheerful as possible, so that 
your anxiety may not be noticed. Tell your 
wife and the children that we shall soon touch 
land. If she has already found that the crew 
has abandoned the Tirreno, make some excuse 


LAND IS SIGHTED 


31 


for them. If she does not know it, as I hope, say 
nothing about it.” 

“But she will naturally notice the absence of 
the steward who has been attending us,” objected 
the Doctor. 

“I don’t think that will trouble her,” replied 
Salvator. “She will be inclined to suppose that 
all hands are needed on deck. You might sug- 
gest that Selena take charge of the meals and 
serving for the present. Selena seems to be a 
strong and sensible girl who can be of great 
assistance to us. As far as your son Cyrus is 
concerned, though he is but a boy in years, he 
has the courage and the spirit of a grown man. 
You should tell him the entire truth. Send him 
up to me and I’ll explain how things stand,” 
he concluded. 

Doctor Paul was much moved and warmly 
pressed the old sailor’s hand. 

“You are, indeed, our good friend,” he said, 
“and in these strange troubles and trials you will 
certainly be our providence.” 

He then went below. A little later Cyrus 
appeared on deck. 

“My father said you wanted to talk to me, 
Salvator,” he said. 

“And so I do, my boy,” said Salvator, cheerily. 


32 


THE ITALIAN FAMILY ROBINSON 


“First of all, don’t let your mother know that we 
are deserted, or that we don’t know where we 
are, or that the ship is in pretty bad shape, 
generally.” 

“No, I won’t,” said the boy. “But is there 
any danger of ” 

Salvator did not allow him to finish. Taking 
his hand and controlling his voice with difficulty, 
he told the lad their exact situation, keeping 
back nothing. 

“So you see,” he concluded, “it is necessary 
above all to be brave and cheerful. Then we 
must keep your mother from coming on deck.” 

“ That will be easy enough, anyway,” said 
Cyrus. “Mother is so ill that she is not able to 
leave her cabin; in fact she can’t leave her bed.” 

“Then our task will be easier.” 

“There would be no ‘task’ at all, so far as 
mother is concerned, if the ship’s cook had not 
gone with the rest,” said Cyrus. “Mother’s 
first words on waking will be to ask if we 
children have eaten.” 

“And why have you not eaten.^^” asked Salva- 
tor, smiling. 

“Because, . . . because ...” 

“The cook is gone, to be sure,” laughed Sal- 
vator; “but that is no good reason why we 


LAND IS SIGHTED 


33 


should not all of us eat! We shall take the place 
of the cook.” 

“Why, what can we do?” asked Cyrus. 

“You can get milk for Marie, first of all. 
There is the goat, and I can teach you how to 
milk her. Then I shall light the galley fire and 
cook just the best meal I possibly can cook for 
the rest of us. Then you can tell me what you 
think of my cooking!” 

“But the ship — the wheel — who will attend 
to it meanwhile?” asked Cyrus. 

“Don’t worry about that,” replied Salvator. 
“The tiller is properly fastened, the wind has 
gone down considerably and is blowing steadily; 
the water in the hold stays at just about the 
same depth. So I can leave the deck for a while 
with perfect safety.” 

Before long, thanks to the united efforts of 
Salvator and Cyrus, breakfast was ready, and 
Madame Paul, thoroughly worn out from illness 
and anxiety, did not even notice the absence of 
the steward. 

The sea was now almost calm. The rolling 
of the ship had become almost imperceptible; 
the welcome, cheering rays of the sun en- 
tering through the port holes brightened the 
cabin, and the waves, rippling as lightly as a 


34 


THE ITALIAN FAMILY ROBINSON 


baby breathes, lapped against the sides of the 
ship. 

“What beautiful weather! What a relief after 
the terror of the last few days!” said Madame 
Paul, devoutly joining her hands and gratefully 
regarding the strip of blue sky which she could 
see from her bed. 

Cyrus and his little brother Junius exchanged 
glances. Would it not have been cruel to dis- 
turb the relief of their mother, and discourage 
her besides? 

Just then Salvator entered the cabin. The 
good old sailor came to suggest sending Selena 
and the children on deck. Doctor Paul followed 
his little family to the deck, while Cyrus stayed 
to watch his mother who, lulled by the gentle 
movement of the sea, soon closed her eyes in 
refreshing sleep. 

Selena, on reaching the head of the stairway 
was unable to restrain a gesture of surprise. 

“Where are the sailors? Where is Captain 
Sturla?” she asked, in a low voice. 

“They are all gone,” answered Salvator. 

“Gone!” she exclaimed. “Are they all 
dead?” 

“Not dead; they have simply gone away.” 

“And left us here to die, alone?” asked Selena, 


LAND IS SIGHTED 


35 


pressing the baby close to her breast as she lifted 
her eyes, full of tears, to Heaven. 

Doctor Paul took her gently by the arm and, 
walking a little distance away so that not a word 
of what he was going to say would reach the 
children, told her in a few words all that had 
happened. He finished by telling her that she 
could help them greatly if she would. 

Selena was glad to know that she could be of 
special use to the family, — above all to the baby 
for whom she felt almost a mother’s tenderness. 
The poor girl, who at first had been terrified, now 
plucked up courage at the idea of doing some- 
thing to help. 

Junius and Giselda, thoroughly happy at being 
permitted to leave the cabin, were the first to 
reach the deck, where they looked in vain for 
their friend Captain Sturla. In vain they called 
for him with all the strength of their lungs. 

Surprised at the strange stillness, they felt 
suddenly afraid. Seeing their father approach, 
they ran to him and threw themselves sobbing 
into his arms. 

“Oh, papa! dear papa!” said Giselda, “what 
is the matter.^ Where is the Captain Are we 
all going to die.^” 

“Die! Who talks about dying, silly child.^ 


36 


THE ITALIAN FAMILY ROBINSON 


What will happen to your mother if her little girl 
shows herself so much afraid? My little girl and 
boy must be brave.” 

“Oh!” said Giselda, “I won’t say anything to 
mother, neither shall Junius. She is too sick! 
But I was afraid!” 

“We will try to be brave, father,” said Junius, 
“and we certainly won’t worry mother.” 

Doctor Paul kissed them both, and gently 
pushed them towards Selena. But Giselda clung 
to his coat, saying: 

“I beg you, papa, let me stay near you. I 
won’t speak nor cry. You may be sure I won’t 
bother you; only don’t send me away, for I’m 
afraid.” 

“I am not afraid,” said Junius, with a bold 
air, “and I am going to help my good friend 
Salvator. I want to work.” 

“Very well, then,” said the boatswain. “Come 
along with me.” 

When Junius and Salvator had gone, Giselda 
said, “Papa^ please tell me what has happened 
to the Captain and the sailors. Are they all 
drowned? And are we going to be drowned, 
too?” 

“I hope not, Giselda. The good God surely 
will save us from that,” answered her father. 


LAND IS SIGHTED 


37 


‘‘Let us ask it of Him with heart and soul. Let 
us also pray that He will save the Captain who 
was so badly wounded last night. As for the 
sailors . . 

“It is more necessary to pray to the good God 
for them than for the Captain,” said Salvator, 
solemnly, as he approached them again. “Yes- 
terday they committed a wdcked deed, for which 
they will be punished unless God takes pity on 
them.” 

“But where are they.^” repeated Giselda. 

“They have gone away,” said Salvator. 

“They have gone, perhaps, to get help for us,” 
said Doctor Paul. 

“Then they will come back soon, — perhaps 
before mother has had time to notice that they 
were gone,” said Giselda, joyfully. 

“Now, I am sure that my Junius and Giselda 
won’t chatter about all this,” said Doctor Paul. 

“I’ll answer for Junius and myself,” said 
Giselda. 

“Well, we shall see,” said Doctor Paul, with 
a smile. 

“Yes, papa, you’ll see.” 

It was not long before Giselda forgot her terror. 
Junius, likewise, forgot his intention to help 
Salvator, and the two children began to romp 


38 


THE ITALIAN FAMILY ROBINSON 


about the deck as if nothing unusual had hap- 
pened. Even Selena, whose duty it was to care 
for them, forgot for a while her own troubles. 

Doctor Paul and Salvator took turns at the 
wheel. About noon the boatswain, looking at his 
watch, said, ‘‘I shall go now and find our lati- 
tude.” 

In about five minutes he returned, saying joy- 
fully, “Good news! Just as I hoped! We must 
be near an island where we can land. We must 
now watch on all sides with the greatest care for 
land. We must not pass this group without 
finding some point at which to land. Keep a 
sharp lookout. Doctor. Watch carefully, now, 
while Cyrus and I go below to prepare dinner. 
Look straight ahead of you in the direction we 
are sailing.” 

When Salvator returned some time later to 
announce that dinner was ready. Doctor Paul 
showed him a spot, still very far away, which 
he had been watching for some time and which 
seemed to grow larger. 

“What is that in the distance.^ Is it land, or 
a cloud .^” he asked, in great excitement. “I 
can hardly believe it is land.” 

Salvator looked intently in the direction pointed 
out and after a while answered, “I cannot be 


LAND IS SIGHTED 


39 


sure, but it looks like land to me,” he replied. 
“We will steer in that direction and God grant 
that it may be land, for the water in the hold 
is again rising. I have just now made new 
soundings.” 


CHAPTER IV 


PREPARATIONS FOR LANDING 

The shadow observed by Doctor Paul not only 
proved to be land but to be much nearer than 
either he or Salvator had supposed. 

The wind, meanwhile, was becoming stronger 
and, in spite of the fact that the water was slowly 
but constantly rising in the hold, the Tirreno 
made better progress than they had dared to 
hope. Soon they could see distinctly the cocoa- 
nut palm trees which fringed the shore of the 
island, as Salvator had predicted. 

“I see now what we must do,” said the old 
boatswain. “We are heading for that side of 
the island which is most exposed to the wind, 
where the water is generally deep enough to per- 
mit a ship to get close to the shore. On the other 
side there are, probably, many reefs near the sur- 
face of the water which would prevent a close 
approach. We must look now for some favor- 
able spot to beach our vessel.” 

The shore was now clearly visible. 


PREPARATIONS FOR LANDING 


41 


“God be praised!” exclaimed the old sailor. 
“There is just the spot for which I was wishing,” 
he added, pointing with his finger. “We can land 
there in all safety. Doctor Paul, see those three 
cocoanut palms, like a beautiful bunch of flowers! 
Observe their position well. Now, you go for- 
ward to the bow while I stay at the wheel, but 
do not lose sight of those three trees. Watch 
the course of the vessel carefully at the same time. 
If you think I should steer more to the right, 
raise your right hand, and, if to the left, your left 
hand. If I should keep straight ahead in the 
direction of the trees, lower both hands. Do you 
understand me. Doctor? The matter is most 
important.” 

“I understand perfectly, Salvator,” replied 
Doctor Paul, going forward to the bow. 

Guided thus by Doctor Paul, Salvator handled 
the wheel so that the Tirreno did not deviate from 
the course he had first indicated. Within half a 
mile of the island he saw, with great satisfaction, 
that the water, judging by its color, was deep 
enough for the ship to go in still nearer the shore. 

The ship advanced steadily toward the shore 
and in a short time the keel grated on a great 
bank of coral, part of which showed above the 
water. The grating sound became louder. Then 


42 


THE ITALIAN FAMILY ROBINSON 


came a sudden shock and, with a long crunching 
sound, the vessel came to a dead stop. The 
Tirreno had settled firmly on the reef. 

“God be praised!” said Salvator. “Every- 
thing depends now entirely upon our courage 
and ability.” 

Lifting his cap, the brave old sailor knelt down 
on the deck with Doctor Paul and raised a prayer 
of thanks as fervent as any that ever came from 
grateful hearts. Before the two men had risen 
to their feet again, Cyrus came rushing on deck. 

“Papa! papa! Come quickly,” cried he. 
“That dreadful shock has awakened mother and 
frightened her. She is calling for you.” 

Doctor Paul rushed at once to the cabin where 
he found his wife sitting up in bed, pale, with 
eyes full of terror. 

“What has happened.^ Have I had a bad 
dream, or . . . has the ship really struck a rock.^^” 

“My dear wife, you have not dreamed. But 
don’t be afraid; we have been very fortunate.” 

“Very fortunate!” exclaimed the invalid. 
“What do you mean.^” 

In a few words. Doctor Paul told his wife 
what had happened, finishing with: 

“So, now, at last we have reached land!” 

But Madame Paul did not rejoice with her 


PREPARATIONS FOR LANDING 


43 


husband. The poor lady had not witnessed 
the terrible scenes and faced the dangers of the 
preceding days, as he had. To her, the newly 
found land meant only an unknown island, in- 
habited perhaps by cannibals. Doctor Paul had 
great difficulty therefore in calming her fears. 

Meanwhile, Cyrus and Salvator were examining 
the position of the ship and observing the island 
from the deck. 

‘‘The Tirreno has struck firmly in the bank 
of coral sand,’’ said Salvator, “and will not 
move again unless she should be disturbed by 
some big storm. Although the sea is at present 
calm, I should not be surprised, however, if we 
had a violent squall to-morrow.” 

“Then would it not be better for us to go 
ashore now and assure ourselves that we shall 
not all die of hunger on the island.^” asked Cyrus. 

“There is an old saying among sailors that I 
have always found to be true,” answered Salva- 
tor: “That where cocoanuts grow, there is no 
danger of starving. As an old rhyme has it, 

‘Lands where cocoanuts flourish 
Do man quite readily nourish.’ 

Our greatest difficulty, however, will be to reach 
the shore, — unless we do it by swimming.” 


44 


THE ITALIAN FAMILY ROBINSON 


“If we can’t get ashore,” said Cyrus, “we are 
no better off than before!” 

“Such is Youth!” said Salvator with a smile. 
“It believes everything one moment and despairs 
of everything the next. It sees nothing between 
these two extremes!” 

“But, Salvator, how are we going to reach 
the island.^” asked Cyrus, looking a little ashamed 
of himself. 

“There is a way. There is always a way. 
Behold the way to the shore!” said the old 
sailor, pointing to a boat near the stern which, 
although much damaged by the last storm, was 
still hanging on the davits. 

“But that boat is small, and it is all smashed 
up,” said Cyrus, scornfully. 

“Exactly so,” nodded Salvator. 

“It will sink; we shall not be able to keep 
it afloat,” added Cyrus. 

“That was the very reason why Clermont 
and the crew did not take it,” said Salvator. 
“But with the help of your father, I expect to 
put it in such condition that we may be able to 
use it.” 

“Can’t I help, too?” asked Cyrus, eagerly. 

“Yes, by going down to your mother. Be- 
sides it will soon be time for you and your father 


PREPARATIONS FOR LANDING 


45 


to get supper. And then we must all get to bed 
early. To-morrow will be a busy day.” 

“But . . .” objected Cyrus. 

“Don’t stop to argue,” said Salvator, firmly. 
“I shall attend to everything here. Be sure you 
give the animals something to eat, also.. And 
don’t forget Captain Sturla’s dogs. They will 
be especially useful to us when once we are on 
shore.” 

In a few moments, no one remained on deck 
but Salvator, who immediately fell to work re- 
pairing the damage to the boat, which was indeed 
badly injured and in very poor condition. After 
two hours’ work, and after eating some supper 
with the others in the cabin, the old sailor, 
thoroughly worn out, stretched himself on the 
top of the deck coop in which the fowls were 
kept and was soon peacefully asleep. 

At daybreak he was awakened by two of the 
dogs. Fox and Spot, who sniffed about him, lick- 
ing his hands and face for joy at having found 
him again. 

The boatswain returned their caresses, mur- 
muring sadly, “Poor things, I very much fear 
you will never see your master again.” 

“But this will never do!” cried he, jumping 
up from his hard bed. “I must cheer up and 


46 THE ITALIAN FAMILY ROBINSON 

get to work on the boat again. That sleep was 
just what I needed. I feel entirely rested.” 

Before very long the boat was mended, — at 
least well enough to keep afloat. Well satisfied 
with his work upon the boat, Salvator now turned 
his attention to the selection of the supplies to be 
carried ashore. Doctor Paul felt that, before 
completing the list which Cyrus had begun the 
day before, it would be desirable for them to 
note down everything on the Tirreno that was 
likely to prove useful on the island. 

Of live stock they found that they had on 
board three dogs, two goats, five pigs, some hens, 
a few pigeons, and a cow. Of these, the cow was 
in very poor condition, as one of its legs had been 
hurt in the rolling of the ship during the last 
storm. 

“Poor beast!” said Doctor Paul, as he examined 
the injured leg. “I am afraid we shall have to 
kill you so that you will suffer no more pain. 
. . . Don’t forget the six sheep, Salvator,” went 
on the Doctor. “This ship is a regular Noah’s 
ark, but these animals will all be useful on the 
island.” 

“We have any quantity of food. We have 
only to make a choice,” said Salvator. 

After completing the list, Salvator began to 


PREPARATIONS FOR LANDING 47 

check off on it the articles he meant to take on 
shore. 

“What shall we take in the first boat load.^” 
inquired Doctor Paul. 

After considerable discussion, this question was 
settled as follows : Three large sails to make 
tents, a great quantity of rope, half a dozen 
mattresses, two axes, several hammers, plenty 
of nails, and some food. When, with the aid of 
Doctor Paul, all these things were ready to be 
put into the boat. Doctor Paul called Cyrus and 
Selena on deck. 


CHAPTER V 


THE FIRST TRIP TO THE ISLAND 

The launching of the boat was not a difficult 
matter. Under Salvator’s direction it was most 
successful. As the little vessel slid into the water 
there was, however, a moment of keen anxiety as 
to whether it would float on an even keel. 

“God be praised!”^ cried Salvator, as he saw 
that the boat rode the waves, straight and buoy- 
ant. “This relieves us of the difficult task of 
building a raft. And now. Doctor Paul, we 
must load her,” he continued. “Shall we take 
any of the children with us on this trip.^” 

“We are entirely in your hands, Salvator,” 
replied the Doctor. “Do what you think best. 
We shall faithfully obey you.” 

“Since you permit me to decide. Doctor, my 
opinion is that, before we do anything else, we 
should make a trip to the island alone. It is 
less than half a mile away.” 

All eyes were turned toward the land, which 
lay to the north of the Tirreno at about the dis- 


FIRST TRIP TO THE ISLAND 


49 


tance mentioned by Salvator. All regarded it 
with the greatest curiosity, wondering whether 
it was inhabited and by what kind of people; 
what kind of animals, what plants grew there; 
and how large it was. On these things depended 
their future safety and well-being, while they were 
on the island. 

“Come, Doctor; let us be going,” said Salva- 
tor, getting into the boat. 

Doctor Paul followed quickly and they rowed 
briskly toward the shore, carrying with them only 
a sail, two guns, and a bundle of rope. Cyrus 
and Selena, feeling decidedly lonely, waved to 
them from the deck. 

In about twenty minutes they reached the shore 
safely, landing at the head of a little bay where 
the water was shallow and clear as crystal. In its 
depths they could see beautiful shells and hun- 
dreds of little fish with brilliant scales swimming 
about. 

As soon as they landed, Salvator and the 
Doctor knelt down and kissed the earth, fervently 
thanking God for their safe arrival. 

“What a beautiful spot!” cried Salvator, jump- 
ing up and looking about him. “It looks as if 
no human foot but ours had ever trod this 
shore!” 


50 


THE ITALIAN FAMILY ROBINSON 


“Perhaps that’s all the better for us,” said 
Doctor Paul. “Let us explore the neighborhood 
at once.” 

“You take the gun, Doctor,” said Salvator; 
“the ax will do for me.” 

“Do you think there is any special danger, 
Salvator?” asked the Doctor. 

“I think not,” was the reply. “There is noth- 
ing on this island but birds, foxes and, perhaps, 
some wild pigs from the continent.” 

“From the continent!” exclaimed Doctor Paul. 
“Do you think then that other people have been 
here before?” 

“No,” said Salvator, “for this island is cer- 
tainly not marked on any mariner’s chart. But 
I have sailed in these seas with a captain who 
never failed, when passing near a desert island to 
let loose a pair of pigeons or to set ashore some 
other animals. He used to say that he did this 
with the idea of providing food for the unfor- 
tunate people who might happen, later, to be 
shipwrecked on these shores.” 

“That was truly wise and generous,” said 
Doctor Paul. “It is curious to think that you, 
with us, may now profit by his kindness.” 

“We shall not need to find much in the way 
of food on the island,” said Salvator, “thanks to 


FIRST TRIP TO THE ISLAND 


51 


the number of animals and the quantity of grain 
we have on board.” 

“Salvator,” said the Doctor, after they had pro- 
ceeded some distance, “do you see that little hill 
ahead, not very far from the shore.^” 

“Yes,” answered Salvator; “it looks like a 
good place for us to camp.” 

“Then let us go no farther, I beg,” said the 
Doctor. “Before sunset to-day — and the sun is 
already quite high — we must make several more 
trips from the boat to the shore, so we must not 
get too tired now.” 

“Have you made any plans about bringing the 
rest of your family ashore. Doctor asked 
Salvator. 

“No, I am leaving it entirely in your hands, 
my dear Salvator,” was the reply. 

“Well, my idea is to bring Cyrus and Selena 
here first, for they can help us.” 

“I am afraid, however,” objected the Doctor, 
“that my wife will not be satisfied to remain on 
board without either Cyru« or myself.” 

“Well, in that case we can bring Selena, 
Junius, and the dogs instead. Afterwards, while 
you and Selena are busy here getting ready for 
the others, I shall make two or three trips alone, 
bringing back whatever seems most necessary. 


52 THE ITALIAN FAMILY ROBINSON 

Then, on the last trip, I shall make it my business 
to bring whoever is then on the Tirreno,'' 

Without further discussion. Doctor Paul and 
Salvator got into the boat again and went back 
to the ship, returning shortly with Selena, Junius, 
the three dogs, and everything needed to set up 
the two tents in which they were to pass the 
night. 

“What a lovely place!” exclaimed Selena, as 
soon as she had set foot on the island. 

The dogs ran about, barking joyously, but 
Junius was pale and nervous, and seemed to be 
wondering whether he should laugh or cry. But 
when he saw the beautiful shells that were 
strewn about the shore, he at once began to fill 
his pockets with them. 

“Begin work at once, Selena,” said Salvator, 
smiling. “This is not the time to admire the 
scenery, even if it does remind you of home. 
First we must carry everything we have brought 
with us to yonder hill, and then make ready for 
Madame Paul. Here is your load. . . . And you, 
Master Junius, shall help me carry this sail.” 

Before long, both tents were set up on the side 
of the little hill in a spot well shaded by cocoanut 
trees. Salvator intended to make these tents as 
comfortable as possible. But, to accomplish this. 


FIRST TRIP TO THE ISLAND 


53 


it would be necessary to make many trips to the 
Tirreno. 

“I am going back to the ship,” he said to 
Doctor Paul, “while you and Selena fasten the 
tent to the stakes driven into the ground. Now, 
remember. Master Junius,” he added, “you’d 
better not try any of your jokes here. Help 
your father and Selena as much as you can, but 
do not touch anything else, for fear, without 
meaning it, you might do some damage.” 

“Never fear, uncle Salvator,” said the lad. 
“I shall be as good as gold.”* 

“I know you mean to be,” said Salvator, 
smiling. “But I beg of you, stay near your 
father and, above all, do not touch the weapons, 
because the ax is sharp and the guns are loaded.” 

Saying this, the faithful old boatswain got into 
the boat and, rowing at full speed, soon reached 
the Tirreno. 


The Italians say, “as good as bread.’ 


CHAPTER VI 

THE WRECK IS ABANDONED 


Junius, as we have said before, was a warm- 
hearted, generous, impulsive child. His great 
failing, however, was that he was very often 
disobedient because he was heedless and for- 
getful. No sooner, therefore, had Salvator left 
the shore, and his father and Selena returned to 
the tents, than he began to play around the 
pile of things which had been brought from the 
Tirreno. 

Meanwhile, Salvator had reached the ship. 
He briefly told Madame Paul and Cyrus all that 
had thus far been done to make a home on the 
island and all that they intended to do in the 
near future. Then he added: 

“Now, do not worry, dear Madame. Doctor 
Paul and I agreed that, if they should meet with 
any kind of danger during my absence, he would 
let me know at once by firing one of the guns.” 

He had barely uttered these words when they 
heard the sound of a gunshot from the shore. 


THE WRECK IS ABANDONED 


55 


Madame Paul, thoroughly frightened, slipped 
from her bed and rushed in terror to the deck, 
where Salvator and Cyrus had all they could 
do to keep her from leaping into the boat in 
her eagerness to go ashore and find out what 
had happened. 

‘‘No, no, Madame!” cried Salvator. “Let 
me go alone! I can find out much more quickly 
than you what the trouble is. And as soon 
as I reach the shore, I shall signal you at once 
if anything is wrong.” 

Jumping into the boat, Salvator, very much 
disturbed himself by the sudden alarm, began 
to row rapidly in the direction of the island. 

Poor Madame Paul anxiously watched the 
boat which, although it appeared to skim over 
the water with the swiftness of a bird, to her 
seemed to go so slowly — oh, so slowly ! As 
she gazed, she prayed fervently that God would 
protect those whom she loved more than she 
did her life. Finally, the poor lady fainted in 
the arms of Cyrus, who fortunately kept his 
presence of mind and, exerting all his strength, 
managed to carry his mother down to the 
cabin. 

It is easy to imagine with what a heavy heart 
Salvator approached the island. He could not 


56 THE ITALIAN FAMILY ROBINSON 

see what was going on, since his back was 
turned toward the shore, and his anxiety, though 
better controlled than that of Madame Paul, 
was almost as great. 

At last he reached the shore. There he found 
Doctor Paul, Selena, and Junius, the last looking 
the picture of woe. His eyes were red and there 
were smeared furrows down his cheeks, evi- 
dently made by the tears which he had wiped 
away with his grimy hands. The old sailor 
at once guessed what had happened. 

‘T wager,” said Salvator, “that it was Master 
Junius that ...” 

“You are not mistaken,” said Doctor Paul. 
“The heedless boy, in spite of our warnings, 
played with the gun and it went off.” 

“That is not so,” muttered Junius. “The 
gun did not go off by itself. I fired it! Up 
in that cocoanut tree I saw such a big bird! 
I thought that it would do for mamma’s supper. 
Oh, if I had only hit it!” 

Salvator and the others could hardly keep 
from laughing. 

“And, instead of bringing down the bird,” 
said Doctor Paul, “he fell down himself, his 
legs in the air, partly from fright and partly 
from the recoil of the musket. And he did 


57 


THE WRECK IS ABANDONED 

this foolish trick without once stopping to think 
of how it might alarm his mother.” 

“She was very much frightened, I can tell 
you,” said Salvator. “I really think. Doctor 
Paul, you’d better go back at once to calm and 
reassure her,” he added. 

“I think I shall take Junius with me and put 
him in the coal bunker to keep company with 
the rats,” said Doctor Paul, severely. 

“No! No, please don’t take me, papa!” cried 
Junius. “Please forgive me this time! I shall 
never touch anything again that you tell me not 
to.” 

After renewed warnings, which in spite of 
Junius’s repentance they feared would be un- 
heeded, Salvator and the Doctor returned to the 
ship. 

The sight of her husband at once calmed 
Madame Paul so that she soon fell fast asleep. 

Meantime, Salvator and Cyrus were loading 
the boat with the things that they felt sure 
would be needed on shore that night. These 
things were the mattresses and bedclothes, a 
small cook-stove and coal, ropes, tables and 
chairs, nails and some carpenter’s tools, kitchen 
pots and pans, and many other things. Sal- 
vator and Doctor Paul made a number of trips 


58 THE ITALIAN FAMILY ROBINSON 

back and forth between the Tirreno and the 
island, working for many hours without showing 
any sign of being tired. 

About an hour before sunset, however, Sal- 
vator announced to those on the island that he 
was going to stop carrying supplies for that day 
and that on the next trip he would bring to 
shore the rest of the family, whose living 
quarters were now ready, thanks to their united 
efforts, 

‘‘We have only two hours of daylight left,” 
concluded Salvator, “and that will be none too 
much to bring Madame Paul, Cyrus, and the 
girls ashore and get them settled.” 

“Then let us start at once for the ship,” 
said Doctor Paul. “Selena,” he added, “put 
the finishing touches to everything while we 
are gone, and you, Junius! do not fire off any 
more guns.” 

“Don’t worry, papa,” answered Junius. “I 
shall be too much afraid.” 

On board the Tirreno they found Madame 
Paul awake, but still very much worried and up- 
set. The excitement, however, had not harmed 
her, but instead it had apparently given her a 
certain amount of strength, so that she was 
ready and eager to make the trip to shore. 


THE WRECK IS ABANDONED 


59 


Leaning on her husband’s shoulder, she reached 
the deck. But before getting into the boat she 
wished to say farewell to the ship, and kneeling 
down on the deck, she prayed most fervently 
that they might all be protected in their new 
home. 

‘‘I feel that we are saying good-by to every- 
thing!” cried Madame Paul, clasping the rail 
with both hands: “not only to our home and 
fatherland, but to everything that is civilized.” 

“Adelaide,” said Doctor Paul tenderly, “you 
must not forget that God never abandons his 
creatures, no matter where they may be. Do 
not fear, then, but have faith in Him and in 
our love and care for you.” 

“I know that I should not complain,” she 
answered, “but I find it hard to leave this ship. 
Leaving this ship, which is Italian, seems like 
saying farewell forever to Italy itself.” 

Doctor Paul, fearing that his wife would 
exhaust the little strength she had, turned to 
Salvator, saying: 

“Help me put Madame Paul into the boat.” 

Between them they gently raised the invalid 
lady, placed her carefully in the boat which 
Cyrus was steadying, where she was immedi- 
ately followed by her husband, and Giselda 


60 THE ITALIAN FAMILY ROBINSON 

carrying Marie. Salvator then got in himself 
and they rowed away. 

When Madame Paul stepped ashore, all the 
others clapped their hands and shouted for joy. 

Confused, surprised, and very tired, the poor 
lady could not say at first how glad she was to 
* find herself again on firm dry land. Moreover, 
in her heart she feared what this unknown island, 
lost in the middle of the ocean, might have in 
store for her. 

At this point, Junius tried to cheer her up. 

“Mamma,” he said, “you have two new 
cooks. Selena and I have cooked such a good 
supper for you ! See how bright the fire is ! 
Just smell that soup! And after supper you 
shall sleep in such a fine bed, too. We’re going 
to have a fine time on this island, I can tell you. 
It is inhabited only by birds, with feathers of 
all colors. But I must attend to my roast,” he 
concluded. 

The lively youngster ran down the beach to 
what they called “the kitchen” where, over a 
large heap of glowing coals, a shoulder of mutton 
was browning beautifully. 

Madame Paul smiled as she looked about her. 
Everything she saw tended to reassure her, and 
she began to feel more content. A gentle wind 


THE WRECK IS ABANDONED 61 

moved the foliage of the cocoanut palms; the 
sky was free from clouds and of a deep blue. 
Everything was perfectly quiet; the air was 
comfortably mild and very fragrant. It seemed 
as if Nature was trying to make up to these 
poor castaways for their many days of suffering 
on the ship. 

A quarter of an hour later all were seated 
around the table enjoying the supper so well 
prepared by Selena and . . . Junius. 

After they had eaten with the best appetites 
in the world, they all knelt down and sang a 
hymn of thankfulness for their escape from the 
dangers of the sea, and as they sang their voices 
awakened the echoes in the forest near by. 

Shortly afterward the entire family were sound 
asleep in the improvised but comfortable beds, 
which Doctor Paul with the help of Cyrus and 
Selena had arranged that afternoon in the two 
tents, one of which was occupied by Madame 
Paul, Giselda, Selena, and baby Marie, and the 
other by Doctor Paul, Salvator, and the boys. 
Even the dogs, stretched full length before the 
tents, were asleep. 


CHAPTER Vn 


HOUSEKEEPING ON THE ISLAND 

Next morning Doctor Paul awoke at day- 
break. 

Dressing quietly so as not to disturb his 
companions, who were still sound asleep, he 
slipped out of the tent. As he stepped outside 
he could not repress a cry of surprise and delight 
at the beautiful scene before him. 

The thick foliage of the cocoanut palms 
formed green arches overhead; a gentle breeze 
was blowing, and there was not a cloud in the 
sky. The ocean stretched away into the dis- 
tance, blue as the sky and calm as a lake, the 
water moving in little ripples. To the left, the 
land rose gently from the white sandy beach to 
several low hills which were thickly covered 
with vegetation. In the distance, could be 
seen the dark outlines of the forest. To the 
right, a line of rocks of coral formation showed 
above the water extending seaward for some 
distance. Doctor Paul could easily distinguish 


HOUSEKEEPING ON THE ISLAND 63 

the Tirreno which, like some huge monster 
asleep among the rocks, was easily the most 
striking feature of the scene. 

‘‘What man would not deem himself happy 
to live under this bright sky, surrounded by 
all these beauties of nature.^ And yet, only a 
little while ago I felt like complaining of our 
hard luck!” thought Doctor Paul, as he walked 
down toward the beach. 

‘‘And as I consider all that Salvator has 
accomplished — with the little help that Cyrus 
and I could give him — since the crew aban- 
doned us on the Tirreno, it is very clear to me 
that God intended man to be helpful not only 
to himself but to his fellow men. No man can 
live to himself. Even as a child, his help is 
required by his parents and his playmates; 
later, by his family and, if he is a good citizen, 
by his fellow-citizens and his country as a 
whole. 

“In this isolated spot,” continued the Doctor, 
“our dependence upon each other is more clearly 
shown, because we are now separated from the 
numberless things upon which we formerly 
depended. The big stout ship on which we 
depended to carry us safely to our journey’s 
end has been wrecked. The good captain in 


64 THE ITALIAN FAMILY ROBINSON 

whose knowledge and experience we had abso- 
lute trust, has been carried from us, wounded 
and helpless. The crew have abandoned us to 
our fate. And yet by the courage, good will, 
and work of one man and the use of a frail, 
almost worthless boat, we have reached this 
beautiful spot without mishap. 

“It would be nothing less, therefore, than 
rank ingratitude to God, who has preserved us 
thus far, not to continue to trust in His goodness 
and mercy.” 

At this point his reflections were interrupted 
by a slight noise and Doctor Paul, turning 
quickly, looked in the direction of the tents. 

Cyrus was coming toward him, followed by the 
dogs. 

“Good-morning, father,” said Cyrus; “Salva- 
tor and Junius are still asleep. I slipped out 
very quietly so as not to disturb them, espe- 
cially poor Salvator. You must have noticed 
how tired he looked last night.” 

“Yes, I noticed. He is a wonderful man. 
What should we have done without him.^” 
answered Doctor Paul. 

“He seems to know everything and always 
just what to do,” said Cyrus. “And he is so 
patient and cheerful, too! I am sure there isn’t 


HOUSEKEEPING ON THE ISLAND 


65 


another man in the world like Salvator. I 
should have felt ashamed not to be up early 
this morning. I thought perhaps we could get 
breakfast ready before the others wake up.” 

“That is a splendid idea! What shall you 
do first asked his father. 

“I am going to see just what provisions we 
brought from the Tirreno yesterday. Then we 
shall need a fire. But the one Selena made 
last night has gone out and all our matches are 
thoroughly soaked.” 

“Nothing is easier than to make fire,” said 
Doctor Paul. “We can use the tinder box.” 

“Where is it, father?” asked Cyrus. “I 
have not seen it anywhere.” 

“I think we brought it, but if it is lost, we 
can still make a fire. We can make fire with- 
out either matches or a tinder box,” added 
Doctor Paul. 

“You are not joking, father?” 

“No, indeed; I am quite serious. We need 
only some gunpowder and a lens to do it.” 

“Oh, now I understand,” said Cyrus. “Well, 
we have plenty of gunpowder, and perhaps you 
can unscrew the lens from the spyglass. That 
settles the question of fire. But what about 
milk for Marie?” 


66 THE ITALIAN FAMILY ROBINSON 

“Suppose we row out to the Tirreno ourselves 
and get what we need for breakfast.” 

“Oh, father, that will be fine! Let us get 
into the boat at once.” 

Although neither father nor son was very 
skilful in managing the oars, they managed 
to reach the vessel in a comparatively short 
time. 

While the father busied himself in the cabin, 
getting together the different articles needed, 
including sugar and coffee, Cyrus milked the 
goat; then he fed and watered the animals which 
were still on the ship. 

“I have filled two hampers with food and 
some things for your mother,” said Doctor Paul, 
as he reached the deck again. “What else shall 
we take, Cyrus .^” 

“Let’s take some table linen and some books 
for Junius and Giselda and mother’s prayer book. 
I know she would like to have it.” 

“You are a good son, Cyrus. Your mother 
will surely be pleased,” said Doctor Paul. 

Cyrus looked at his father in surprise. He did 
not understand why he should be praised for 
what to him was perfectly natural. 

On reaching the island they found Selena 
awaiting them at the landing place. 


HOUSEKEEPING ON THE ISLAND 


67 


‘‘Anything new?” asked Doctor Paul anxiously. 

“No, Doctor,” replied Selena. “ Everybody else 
is still asleep. I saw the boat coming and so I 
thought I would be here to meet you and to help 
if necessary.” 

“What beautiful fish! How large they are!” 
said Selena, looking into the water. “If we 
could only catch some of them! Salvator has 
fishing lines and I know where he put them,” 
went on Selena. “Shall I get them?” 

“Let us do one thing at a time,” said Doctor 
Paul, shaking his head. “Just now the most 
important thing is to get breakfast ready. You 
take this smaller hamper with food and linen, 
Selena; we shall bring up the other.” 

“And you would better take these two bottles,” 
said Cyrus; “they are filled with milk for baby 
Marie. Be careful not to break them. . . . But 
what is that noise at the tent?” he added. 

It proved to be Junius running about with the 
dogs. 

“The thoughtless boy!” cried Selena, running 
to silence him. “He’ll wake his mother.” 

But when they reached the tent they found 
everybody except Salvator up and dressed. 
Madame Paul had passed a most restful night. 
She was much pleased to receive the books Cyrus 


68 THE ITALIAN FAMILY ROBINSON 

had brought for Giselda and Junius, and the 
prayer book for herself. 

Very soon a bright fire was blazing. Cyrus, 
profiting by his father’s instructions, had lighted 
it by using the lens to collect the sun’s rays 
into one spot, the great heat in that spot setting 
fire to some gunpowder which in turn started 
the dry twigs he had gathered. In less than 
half an hour breakfast was ready. 

“Why don’t we eat breakfast.^ I’m hungry,” 
grumbled Junius, dancing about like a jumping 
jack. 

“You must wait, Junius,” said his father. 
“We are all going to wait for Salvator, except 
baby. Meanwhile, suppose you help Giselda 
and me set the table. 'Mother will tell us what 
to do,” he added. 

Junius did not dare object but he certainly 
made a very wry face. 

Meanwhile, Selena, who had taken the baby 
down to the beach for a bath, returned, and 
Marie, pink and smiling, had her breakfast of 
warm goat’s milk. 


CHAPTER \ III 


A BUSY DAY 

When Giselda and Junius had finished, the 
table presented a very inviting appearance. Not 
only were the napkins, cups, and plates arranged 
in perfect order, but the different chairs and 
benches brought from the ship had been carried 
from the tents and placed in readiness. 

“I think it is now time to call Salvator,” 
said Junius. 

Doctor Paul himself went to awake Salvator. 

The old boatswain, rubbing his eyes, looked at 
his watch and, seeing the lateness of the hour, 
could hardly believe that he had slept so late. 

“What a lazybones I am to sleep so late!” he 
exclaimed, jumping up. “What shall I get you 
to eat this morning.^” 

“Whatever you like,” answered Doctor Paul. 
“But I warn you that we are as hungry as 
wolves.” 

After dressing as quickly as he could Salvator 
stepped outside the tenti 


70 THE ITALIAN FAMILY ROBINSON 

“Why, what does this mean?” he exclaimed, 
as he caught sight of the table, with all the family 
seated around it. 

“It means that you are not the only one 
that has the privilege of making himself useful,” 
said Doctor Paul, smiling. “You have given 
us so many examples of industry that we were 
ashamed not to follow them. Isn’t that so, 
Adelaide?” 

“And Madame Paul is up, too!” exclaimed 
Salvator. “Well, what do you think of that!” 
he added. 

“Yes; I, too,” said Madame Paul, with a smile 
of greeting. “Though I am not entirely re- 
covered, I am at least stronger and more coura- 
geous than I have been during the past few days. 
And I owe it to you, Salvator. Believe me, I feel 
the deepest gratitude to you for all you have 
done for me and my dear ones.” 

Thus speaking, the good lady fervently pressed 
the hand of the old sailor, as Doctor Paul made 
room for Salvator to sit beside him. 

“Do stop talking, everybody, and begin to 
eat!” cried Cyrus. “Selena does not want the 
coffee to get cold.” 

Between mouthfuls, Cyrus informed Salvator 
of the trip made by himself and his father that 


A BUSY DAY 


71 


morning at daybreak, detailing all they had 
brought to make their home on the island as 
comfortable as possible. And then Selena told 
how she had waded into the bay, knee deep, and 
given a bath to little Marie. 

“What!” cried Salvator. “Don’t ever do that 
again, Selena. You must not give the children 
another sea bath until I find you a place suited 
for it.” 

“But the sea was so calm that there was noth- 
ing to fear,” answered Selena. 

“From the sea, no,” said Salvator. “But 
sharks are to be feared; and there are many 
sharks in these waters. It would not be surpris- 
ing if they were in the bay, too.” 

“Sharks!” cried Madame Paul. “How horri- 
ble! Is it possible that Marie has been exposed 
to so serious a danger.^ Selena, I positively for- 
bid you even to go near the water in future.” 

“Sharks, as far as I know, cannot walk about 
on land, and so could not come up on the beach,” 
said Doctor Paul. “Therefore, my dear Adelaide, 
there is no reason to prevent the children from 
walking along the shore.” 

“Must we give up all notion of sea bathing and 
swimming said Cyrus, greatly disappointed. 

“Yes, we must,” answered Salvator. “Until 


72 THE ITALIAN FAMILY ROBINSON 

we find a place where the sharks cannot go, 
nobody should put a foot into the water. But 
before bothering ourselves about sharks there are 
many other things to be considered. First of all, 
shall we settle here or in some other part of the 
island.?” 

“Why should we leave such a beautiful spot as 
this?” said Madame Paul. 

“We won’t have to, if we can find a spring,” 
said Salvator; “but, Madame, I have not yet 
seen any signs of fresh water near by.” 

“And just suppose we should not find water 
anywhere else!” said Madame Paul, in dismay. 

“Have no fear, Madame. Cocoanut trees 
could not grow so well as they do here unless 
their roots were nourished by fresh water. And, 
since there must be water somewhere on the 
island, if it is not here, it is probably in the forest 
where the vegetation is so thick.” 

“Let us go exploring this morning to look for 
a spring,” said Cyrus. 

Salvator shook his head. 

“Would it not be wiser,” he said, “to take 
advantage of this fine weather we are having to 
make as many voyages as possible to the Tirreno? 
I am glad that the squall which threatened us 
yesterday has not reached us.” 



DOCTOR PAUL MADE ROOM FOR SALVATOR 



74 THE ITALIAN FAMILY ROBINSON 

“Your plan is best, Salvator,” said the Doctor. 
“Let us all three go on board and while Salvator 
rows to and from the shore, you and I can sort 
out the things we need and pack them up so 
that they can easily be carried on the boat.” 

“But when can Salvator tell us any of his 
wonderful stories.^” asked Junius. “He has 
promised us so often.” 

“After we get settled, little man,” said Salva- 
tor. “I have so many stories here” — he touched 
his forehead — “that if I should write them down 
they would fill more than a hundred books. And 
they are all fine stories, too! When we are set- 
tled, in the very best part of the island, and when 
we have built our huts, I shall begin to spin my 
yarns, and I shall not stop until you and Cyrus, 
who are both so fond of wonderful tales, beg 
me to stop!” 

Salvator and his two helpers immediately set 
forth for the Tirreno. 

So well and rapidly did they work that long 
before sunset they had brought to the island a 
very large stock of provisions, furniture, tools, and 
other useful articles. Among the latter were 
included a good stock of bed and table linen, all 
the clothing from their trunks in the cabin, 
and the medicine chest. The provisions included 


A BUSY DAY 


75 


several bags of coffee, many boxes of ship bis- 
cuits, two whole quarters of salt beef and pork, 
twenty bags of flour, and a grindstone. 

'‘Don’t you think we have enough for to-day. 
Doctor Paul.^” asked Salvator. 

“Excuse me,” was the reply. “I did not stop 
to think that you, who are so much older than I, 
must be very weary.” 

“I am not tired,” replied Salvator, “but we 
must consider our poor boat. I am afraid that it 
will not remain afloat very much longer. Before 
it gives out, we ought to get the animals ashore.” 

“Are you not afraid to carry them in such a 
frail boat.^” asked Doctor Paul. 

“I should prefer them to swim ashore, of 
course,” said Salvator, “but I am afraid they 
wouldn’t get there. I have not much faith in the 
ability of these animals to swim.” 

“Let us try with one of the pigs.” 

“Very well,” said Salvator. 

A few minutes later a pig was thrown over- 
board. It commenced to struggle in the water, 
and, after several vain attempts to reach the ship 
again, it turned by instinct toward the island and 
swam rapidly in the direction of the shore. 

“Bravo!” cried Cyrus, clapping his hands. 
“Bravo! That pig will soon reach land.” 


76 THE ITALIAN FAMILY ROBINSON 

“Don’t shout too soon, my boy,” said Salvator; 
“poor piggy is not yet on land.” 

“But he is almost there,” said Cyrus. 

“Do you see that black shadow just below 
the surface of the water .^” asked Salvator, point- 
ing. “It is the back of a shark. Watch him. 
He is about to make a rush. Ah! he has our pig 
between his jaws. Poor little pig! And to think 
how useful he would have been to us! Now let’s 
think how to save the other beasts from meeting 
the same fate.” 

“Can we not get them into the boat with 
their legs tied so that they will not try to swim 
ashore.^” asked Doctor Paul. “We might take 
the sheep first and then the goats. We shall 
have no trouble with the chickens, of course.” 

“And the cow.^” asked Cyrus. 

“There is no way in which we can take her,” 
answered Salvator. “All we can do is to supply 
her with plenty of hay and water so that she 
may not suffer hunger or thirst.” 

The getting of the sheep, goats, pigs, and 
chickens into the boat proved very difficult, as 
the animals struggled so violently that several 
times the boat was nearly swamped! However, 
the last trip was safely made before dark, and 
before Doctor Paul, Salvator, and Cyrus ate 


A BUSY DAY 


77 


supper with the rest of the family, the goats 
and sheep had been tethered for the night to 
the nearest cocoanut palms. The chickens were 
housed in the deck coop which had been brought 
from the ship, while the pigs had disappeared 
entirely. 

‘‘It will soon be necessary to build some kind 
of a stable,” said Cyrus, as they sat round the 
fire after supper. 

“Our first care must be to repair the boat. It 
is so rickety that I am afraid to trust it much 
longer,” said Salvator. 

“But a house for us, a regular house, is neces- 
sary, too. When shall we build one, Salvator.^” 
asked Junius. 

“Are you ready to help build it, Master 
Junius?” returned Salvator. 

Doctor Paul, who considered this a joke, began 
to laugh. 

“I am serious. Doctor,” said Salvator. “The 
rainy season will soon be here and Junius and 
everybody else will have to help if we are to be 
housed in time.” 

“But how do you think we can build Si .house? 
Where shall we get the material?” asked the 
Doctor. 

“You see all these cocoanut trees? Well, we 


78 THE ITALIAN FAMILY ROBINSON 

need no other timber. With these we could 
build a palace.” 

“I did not know that the wood of the cocoa- 
nut palm was so valuable,” said the doctor. 

“The cocoanut palm is so valuable that it, alone, 
is sufficient for man’s needs. The wood is firm 
and so light that it can be easily carried from 
place to place by man himself. It is, neverthe- 
less, soft enough to be worked easily and without 
specially high grade tools. Sawed into planks 
it can be used for flooring and siding. Some 
natives thatch their huts with the leaves, which 
are tough enough to keep out the rain for several 
years. From the finer leaf fibers comes the ma- 
terial from which matting of great beauty is made 
while the coarser fibers make excellent brooms 
and baskets. Potash is made from the ashes of 
burned cocoanut fiber. 

“England finds the fiber of the husk of the 
nut itself valuable enough to be imported after it 
has been manufactured into ropes. It is more 
durable for this purpose than any other vege- 
table substance. 

“We can use some of the fiber to fill up the 
cracks not only in our boat but, whenever it is 
necessary, in the flooring of our future house. In 
addition the meat of the nut is very nourishing 


A BUSY DAY 


79 


as food and from the shells serviceable cups and 
drinking vessels can be made.” 

“Is the sap of the tree of any particular use.^” 
asked Cyrus. 

“Certainly. The sap is gathered in a peculiar 
way. Cuts are made in the leaf buds at the top 
of the trunk and as the sap oozes out it is gath- 
ered daily by natives who climb to the top of 
the tree. The sap has much the appearance of 
water and makes a cooling drink. It also fer- 
ments very readily; in the fermented state it is 
known as palm wine, which is bottled and sent 
to Europe where it is sold as arrack. 

“When the nut is half grown it contains a 
cream-like substance, to which, in the West 
Indies, sugar and sometimes orange blossoms 
are added, the combination being looked upon as 
a great delicacy. Then, too, the oil of the nut is 
almost as valuable as that of the almond. 

“At the top of the tree is a cabbage-like shoot 
that has a delicious taste. It is seldom gathered 
by the natives, however, as its removal kills the 
tree. As you may believe, the tree is entirely 
too valuable to be lost in that way.” 

Of all the many good qualities of the tree men- 
tioned by Salvator, Junius could remember only 
that it bore delicious fruit. Going up to Salva- 


80 THE ITALIAN FAMILY ROBINSON 

tor, he whispered, “Do you think you could get 
me a couple of those cocoanuts every day?” 

“What a greedy boy you are!” said his father. 
“Are you not ashamed to ask Salvator, who is 
already so tired, to do anything more?” 

“But, father, even if Salvator w^ere willing to 
get cocoanuts for Junius,” said Cyrus, “it is too 
dark for him to do so now.” 

“I remember reading,” said Madame Paul, 
“that it is so difficult to separate the nut from 
the branch that the savages sometimes cut down 
the tree to get the fruit.” 

“How foolish!” said Doctor Paul. “That 
merely shows how thoughtless savages are. They 
seem, sometimes, to be only big children.” 

“But they lack the innocence of children,” 
said Salvator. 

“You are right, my friend, and instead of 
calling them big children we shall call them un- 
fortunate, unhappy beings, who do not know 
what they are, nor what they will be, nor whence 
they came, nor whither they go. They are indeed 
children who travel the path of life, crushed by 
the weight of ignorance and sin, and unable in 
consequence to lift themselves to the dignity of 
civilized men.” 

“And it is the work of all enlightened people,” 


A BUSY DAY 


81 


said Madame Paul, “to teach these poor savages, 
so that the weight of ignorance may be lifted 
from them. Then they will learn how to live 
and work for each other.” 

“It is time that we all went to bed,” said 
Doctor Paul, after a few moments of silence. 
“Junius, you should have been in bed long ago. 
Say good-night to your mother now, and go with 
Cyrus to our tent. Salvator and I will soon 
follow.” 

Half an hour later they were all peacefully 
sleeping, and silence reigned over the little camp, 
broken only by the restless movements of the 
sheep and goats tethered near by. 


CHAPTER IX 


SALVATOR TELLS A STORY 

Next morning at breakfast Salvator talked but 
little. He seemed to be thinking deeply. 

“I have reflected,” he said, as he rose from the 
table, ^Hhat before we do anything further toward 
our final settlement here, even before we repair 
the damaged boat, we should make an exploring 
trip across the island.” 

‘‘A good idea! Why don’t we start at once.^” 
said Cyrus, eagerly. 

“Before we can start,” answered Salvator, 
smiling at Cyrus, “we must decide what diffi- 
culties we are likely to meet, and prepare to over- 
come them. . . . What kind of a trip should we 
make and who will make up the party 

“You and I,” answered Doctor Paul, not being 
able to answer the first question. 

“Paul, don’t you ‘think it would be better for 
you to stay with us.^” asked his wife. “We might 
need you very much.” 

“But, my dear, I feel that I can be of more 


SALVATOR TELLS A STORY 83 

use to Salvator than to you,” replied Doctor 
Paul. 

“Excuse me, Doctor,” said Salvator: “I be- 
lieve your wife is right. I think you ought to 
remain here to protect Madame Paul and the 
.children. Cyrus will be enough for me.” 

“Don’t you think Cyrus is too young to go on 
such a trip.^” asked Madame Paul, who was 
uneasy at the thought of anybody leaving the 
camp for any length of time. 

“My dear wife, you are unreasonable. What 
could Salvator do, should anything happen to 
him on such a journey, alone? How would we 
ever hear — ” 

“Mother dear,” interrupted Cyrus. “Since 
father can not go, my place is with Salvator. I 
am sure you do not wish to prevent me from 
doing my plain duty.” 

“Well said, my son,” said Doctor Paul, while 
Madame Paul, although proud of Cyrus’s manly 
response, was still unwilling to consent. “I shall 
remain with your mother, and you shall go along 
with Salvator.” 

“Does this arrangement displease you, mother?” 
asked Cyrus. 

“No, my child,” answered his mother. “You 
are so brave and so good that I have to consent 


84 


THE ITALIAN FAMILY ROBINSON 


to your going. I am ashamed to be so nervous 
and fearful/’ she added. 

‘‘Salvator and I are going to find a place where 
you will soon grow so well and strong that you’ll 
never be nervous again,” said Cyrus, kissing his 
mother’s cheek. 

“I shall certainly be proud of you, dear Cyrus,” 
she replied, smiling. 

“You mean, you will be proud of us all,” said 
Cyrus. 

This question being settled, Doctor Paul and 
Salvator, after some discussion, agreed that Sal- 
vator and Cyrus should try to work their way 
through the forest back of the camp, right across 
the island to the other shore. 

It was also agreed that they should start the 
next morning at daybreak and that the travelers 
should take wdth them water and provisions 
enough for several days. They decided, moreover, 
to spend the rest of the day in preparations for 
the journey. 

“Selena,” said Doctor Paul, “keep up the fire 
and cook us some meat and bake us some bread. 
Adelaide,” he added, turning to his wife, “do you 
feel strong enough to make two bags from this 
piece of sailcloth for our travelers to carry their 
provisions in.^ In the morning, before they start. 


SALVATOR TELLS A STORY 


85 


Cyrus can fill these bottles with water from our 
barrel. I am going to sharpen two axes in readi- 
ness for them.” 

‘‘And I,” asked Junius, “what can I do.^ Tell 
me something to do, Salvator. Let me help, too.” 

“The very best thing you can do, and the way 
you can help the most, is to keep out of mischief 
while we are gone,” said Salvator. “And if you 
want to be. busy right now, you might turn the 
grindstone for your father, while he sharpens the 
axes.” 

Junius clapped his hands and ran as eagerly to 
the grindstone as if he were to be paid for his 
work. 

Meanwhile, Salvator cleaned and oiled the 
guns, made a well twisted string to hold the dogs 
in leash, examined the provisions carefully, and 
packed and placed them where he could find 
them easily in the morning. He then sharpened 
two long hunting knives and put them ready in 
their sheaths. 

“Shall we take the dogs with us, Salvator.^” 
asked Cyrus, during a pause in the work. 

“Yes, but only Fox and Spot. Fido we shall 
leave behind to guard the camp.” 

The day was almost over by the time their 
preparations were completed. While Madame 


THE ITALIAN FAMILY ROBINSON 


Paul with Selena and Giselda were getting supper, 
the others fed the animals and attended to what- 
ever remained to be done in and around the camp. 

When supper was ready, all sat down to table 
and, after the usual grace by Doctor Paul, began 
to eat heartily. Toward the end of the meal, 
when both their appetites and the conversation 
began to languish, Junius suddenly exclaimed, 
“Oh, Salvator, when are you going to tell us one 
of those wonderful stories you promised us.^” 

“Salvator cannot tell stories to-night,” said 
his father, before Salvator could answer. “As 
to-morrow he and Cyrus must rise very early, he 
will want to go to bed early, I think.” 

“Cyrus may go to bed if he wants to,” said 
Junius pertly, “but I am sure Salvator does 
not want to go so soon. Why, it is only seven 
o’clock!” * 

“I am very sure I shall not go to bed if Salva- 
tor decides to oblige Junius by telling a story,” 
said Cyrus. “Salvator’s stories are worth listen- 
ing to, I can tell you,” he added. 

“And why should I not oblige him.^^” asked 
Salvator. 

“Then you will tell us a story, Salvator.?” 
cried Junius, joyfully. 

“Yes, indeed,” was the reply. “How would 


SALVATOR TELLS A STORY 


87 


you like this evening to make a little journey 
to — ” 

‘‘To the moon world?” interrupted Junius. 

“No, to the world of fairies,” answered Sal- 
vator. 

“Hurrah!” cried Junius. “Now please be 
quiet everybody! Salvator is going to tell us a 
story.” 

“I shall not commence,” said Salvator, “until 
the Doctor gives me permission.” 

“Do exactly as you wish, Salvator,” said the 
Doctor. “You can count upon my wife and 
myself being interested listeners, too. We shall, 
indeed, be grateful if you succeed in putting us 
in a more cheerful mood.” 

“Then I shall begin at once,” said Salvator. 

THE STORY 

Many, many years ago there was a very rich 
merchant who had a son named Giannetto. He 
w^as a handsome boy, tall for his age, but of a 
simple turn of mind. His father wished him to 
learn a profession, but the lad soon wearied of 
everything in the line of study. Worse than all, 
he had a strong dislike for any and all kinds of 
business. He could not keep money in his pockets, 
for he had never succeeded in learning its proper 


88 THE ITALIAN FAMILY ROBINSON 

value. Whatever he had, he would willingly give 
away to his companions. Any rare or curious 
toy was, in his estimation, of more value than 
money. 

His father worried a good deal about him, fore- 
seeing that he would some day die of want. He 
often punished the boy severely, although punish- 
ment did no good. At such times the members 
of the household interceded for the boy, telling the 
father that Giannetto, as he grew older, would 
become wiser. Years passed, but unfortunately 
they did not bring wisdom to Giannetto. 

One day the merchant called his son and 
said: 

“Giannetto, it is about time that you learned 
something. It is my wish that you should suc- 
ceed me in my business, and so you must learn 
it. I have decided to give you one more trial. 
See! Here are a hundred gold pieces. A fair is 
being held in the neighboring town. Go and buy 
me some fine linen with that money. Be careful 
not to show how trusting and innocent you are, 
for I should feel ashamed to have you cheated 
again.” 

“Father,” said Giannetto, “I promise you that 
you will be satisfied and that you will not have 
to blush for me this time.” 


SALVATOR TELLS A STORY 


89 


‘‘God grant it, my son. Now go, and do not 
loiter on the way as you usually do.” 

Giannetto started out, firmly resolved to do as 
his father wished. His road obliged him to pass 
through a wood. When Giannetto reached the 
middle of this wood he saw, seated near the edge 
of a clear pool, a most beautiful young girl, so 
small that she seemed to be a fairy. She was 
busily occupied watching something in the hollow 
of her hand. 

Giannetto, advancing through the trees, soon 
discovered that the something was a beetle. The 
little creature was standing erect on its hind feet 
playing a guitar most beautifully, to the evident 
pleasure of the girl. The boy stood for a while, 
delighted at what he saw and heard. At the 
end of a most enchanting air he was unable, to 
restrain himself longer and, parting the branches 
in front of him, he said to the girl: 

“Little lady, that is a most wonderful little 
creature. Will you sell it to me.^” 

“How much will you give me.^” asked the girl. 

“A hundred gold pieces; all I have with me,” 
answered Giannetto. 

“Very well, you may have it.” 

With these words, she placed the beetle in a 
small box filled with herbs and flowers and gave 


90 


THE ITALIAN FAMILY ROBINSON 


it to Giannetto, who gave her in exchange the 
purse he had received from his father. He felt 
perfectly satisfied with his bargain as he turned 
back to the path. He had gone only a few steps, 
however, when the tiny girl called after him: 

“Listen, young man, if you please. When you 
want your beetle to play the guitar do not forget 
to say, Carahd. Be sure to pronounce this word 
correctly.” 

Carahd! CarabdC' repeated Giannetto. “I 
understand. Thank you. Good-by.” 

Giannetto, instead of going on to the next 
village, turned in the direction of his home. He 
stopped on the way at least thirty times, how- 
ever, to pronounce the magic word and make 
the beetle play. 

Feeling well satisfied with himself, he entered 
the house. 

“Welcome home, Giannetto,” cried his father, 
going towards him. “Have you made a good 
bargain so soon.^” 

“Yes, father,” said Giannetto. “For your 
hundred gold pieces I have indeed secured a 
treasure.” 

“What is it.^^ Not the linen Perhaps you got 
cloth of silver, edged with pearls,” said his father, 
smiling. 



es 


>> 


. . THAT IS A MOST WONDERFUL LITTLE CREATURE. . . 




92 


THE ITALIAN FAMILY ROBINSON 


“Much better than that, father.” 

“Ah! Perhaps some rare silk from India or 
China 

“No; nothing of that kind. It is ever so much 
better than you could guess, — a beetle that can 
play the guitar in the most wonderful way.” 

At these words the merchant believed for a 
moment that his son had lost his senses. But 
he quickly realized that what he considered mad- 
ness was only the truth. Then, with his own eyes, 
he saw the beetle rise from its box, stand on its 
hind feet, and place the guitar in position to play. 

“Father, did you ever see anything so wonder- 
ful.^” cried Giannetto, as he saw his father’s arm 
raised to crush the beetle with a blow. The boy 
managed to dodge the blow and, holding the 
insect in the hollow of his hand, he ran off and 
locked himself in his room. 

Time passed. Some months later the merchant 
again called his son. 

“My son,” he said, “I wish to give you a 
chance to make up for your former foolishness in 
squandering a hundred gold pieces, in the pur- 
chase of an insect of no value whatever, instead 
of buying what I told you to buy. I shall be 
glad to pardon you,” he added, “on condition 
that you make good the damage you did then. 


SALVATOR TELLS A STORY 


93 


Listen. The best horse in my stables has just 
died. In the nearest town a merchant has offered 
some very fine horses for sale. Go there and buy 
me one. Here are a hundred gold pieces for pay- 
ment. Be sure you get a horse of good breed. 
This time, I trust, you will give me a chance to 
praise you for cleverness.” 

Giannetto took the money and started on his 
way. Again he entered the wood and, arriving 
at the pool, he again found the same tiny girl 
seated near the brink. This time she held a 
grasshopper on the back of her hand. The insect 
was singing beautifully with enchanting trills and 
twitterings. Giannetto, in spite of his father’s 
warning, was unable to restrain himself. 

‘‘Ah! beautiful damsel,” he said, “your grass- 
hopper surpasses all the nightingales in the world. 
Please sell me this rare little insect! To own it 
will be the greatest happiness of my life and I 
shall always be grateful to you.” 

“This insect is not for sale, but if it will give 
you so much pleasure to have it, I shall cheerfully 
deprive myself of it. What will you give me 
for it.?” 

“Alas! I know that all the money in the 
world is not enough to pay for it, but if you will 
be content with a hundred gold pieces ...” 


94 THE ITALIAN FAMILY ROBINSON 

“You may take it,” said the girl, smiling, and 
she handed him the reed cage into which she had 
put the grasshopper. “When you want it to 
sing, just say, Carabo!'^ 

Once more thoroughly happy, Giannetto re- 
turned home. 

“What about the horse.^” asked his father. 

“Father,” said the young man, “do not be 
angry. Just listen,” he added, “it sings like an 
angel.” 

“What!” exclaimed the father. “You have 
bought me a horse that sings like an angel! That 
is a real wonder. Still, if the animal is otherwise 
sound and strong, the singing is of no consequence. 
It will pass as an oddity, — perhaps the only 
horse of its kind in the world. But tell me what 
sort of voice has it.^ Tenor Baritone? Bass?” 

“Listen, and you will soon know,” said Gian- 
netto, and very carefully he drew the grasshopper 
out of the cage. 

As soon as he said Caraho, the insect sapg so 
sweetly that the merchant, though he had little 
liking for music, was silent with pleasure. But 
the first impression over, he turned to his son 
and said: 

“I asked you to buy me a horse and you have 
brought me a grasshopper. Whatever ability it 


SALVATOR TELLS A STORY 


95 


may have, I can not harness it to my carriage. 
When will you stop doing such foolish things.^ 
This time, however, I shall not scold you, but, 
to make up for your disobedience, we shall sell 
this insect and with the money purchase the horse 
I need.” 

But Giannetto would not give up the grass- 
hopper. 

Before very long, the merchant decided to make 
a third trial. 

He sent his son to the next town to buy some 
wine of a superior quality that had been imported 
from a foreign country. He intended to give a 
grand dinner to celebrate his birthday, and he had 
already sent invitations to the richest and most 
important merchants of his acquaintance. The 
wine was to be the crowning touch to the ban- 
quet. 

‘T want you to realize,” he said to his son, 
“how important is the business I now intrust to 
you. If you do well this time, you will regain 
my confidence and esteem.” 

Giannetto promised to do his best, sincerely 
meaning to please his father. He started for the 
next town, the road to which, unfortunately, 
obliged him, as on the former occasions, to pass 
through the wood. He entered it with the firm 


96 THE ITALIAN FAMILY ROBINSON 

resolution to take to his heels if he should again 
hear or see the beautiful fairy. 

As he drew near the fountain, his heart beat 
so rapidly that he could hardly breathe. To be 
on his guard, he grasped tightly the purse in 
which were the hundred gold pieces given him by 
his father. He advanced cautiously, but he 
neither saw nor heard anyone until, just as he 
thought he was safe, he found himself face to face 
with the same young girl. This time she was 
busily engaged in watching a spider that was 
dancing on her hand. 

There never was a stranger sight than this 
insect, dancing on its long, delicate-looking legs, 
slender as threads. It turned to the right and 
to the left; it bent forward and backward; and 
it made the most wonderful jumps and somer- 
saults imaginable. Giannetto would willingly have 
stayed all day watching it. 

The young girl, who was really a fairy, laughed 
at Giannetto’s surprise and, as he became more 
and more interested in the spider, sijie encouraged 
the little creature with strange words, softly but 
distinctly uttered. 

Soon Giannetto forgot all his good resolutions 
to secure the wine for his father’s birthday ban- 
quet. He saw only the wonderful dancing spider. 


SALVATOR TELLS A STORY 


97 


and in a very few minutes the hundred gold 
pieces were in the possession of the girl and he 
was on the road back to his home with the en- 
chanted spider. He felt certain that his father’s 
guests and his father, too, would infinitely prefer 
the latter to any wine, no matter how delicious. 

When he reached home the next day the guests 
were about to sit down to table, so nothing was 
said about the wine. Everything went well till 
the dinner was nearly over. When the desserts 
and fruit had been placed on the table the mer- 
chant rose from his chair and said to the guests: 

“Gentlemen, you are now about to taste a most 
delicious wine imported from the Canary Islands. 
My son has just returned from purchasing it and 
you will be judges as to whether or not he has 
made a good bargain. Giannetto, see that' the 
wine you have brought is served at once.” 

At these words the young man also rose from 
his chair so that his words might be better heard 
and that he might better arouse the interest of all. 

“Most illustrious gentlemen!” he said. “You 
have already had excellent wine this evening and 
you can have more in abundance, as my father’s 
cellar is well supplied. But I have reserved for 
you a treat much finer than any wine in the 
world, a spectacle at once amusing and interesting. 


98 THE ITALIAN FAMILY ROBINSON 

On this plate, gentlemen, you will see a spider 
perform, with perfect precision, the most difficult 
dances and steps. Watch closely, if you please.” 
And repeating the word Carabi, which was the 
word the little fairy had taught him to say 
when he wished the spider to dance, Giannetto 
placed the spider on the plate and held it up 
where everyone could see it. 

At the sight, the guests burst into shouts of 
laughter, which so terrified the little insect that,* 
instead of dancing, it took refuge in its master’s 
pocket. 

“The lad most likely wants to have a little fun 
with us with his mysterious Carabi,’" said one 
of the guests. “ Try it again, Giannetto,” he added. 

“Go on, Giannetto!” exclaimed another. “Let 
us see your wonderful spider dance.” 

But the merchant was furious, and his voice 
could be heard above all the noisy talk. 

“Ah! You rascal!” he shouted in a voice of 
thunder; “this is another trick of yours. It is 
the third one, gentlemen, and the worst he has 
played me, but it shall be the last! Off with you, 
good-for-nothing ! Away with you and your 
worthless insects, or I shall be tempted to break 
every bone in your body.” 

As he spoke, he flung a heavy silver plate at 


SALVATOR TELLS A STORY 


99 


Giannetto, who, dodging just in time, ran out 
of the room. After hurriedly securing the three 
wonderful insects which had cost him so dearly, 
Giannetto, fearing that his angry father was 
at his heels, left the house and ran on and on 
without even looking behind him. 

After a long time he reached a place where the 
houses were so low that he was obliged to stoop 
considerably in order to enter them. 

The King of that country had a daughter who 
was a dwarf. She looked very much like the 
little girl Giannetto had met in the forest. She 
was at this time suffering from a severe fit of 
melancholy, which nobody could understand. For 
seven years she had not once smiled, and no 
one had been able to cure her. The most learned 
physicians held many consultations, but all Were 
in vain. They all agreed that the sickness was 
incurable and that it would finally cause the 
death of the Princess. 

The King, who was broken-hearted, proclaimed 
that whoever cured the Princess should have her 
for a wife and half of his kingdom as well. Gian- 
netto, hearing of this proclamation, went to the 
palace to see what he could do, and was at once 
admitted. All who came on that errand were 
welcome. 


100 THE ITALIAN FAMILY ROBINSON 

The court was assembled, the beautiful invalid 
seated near her father under a rich canopy of 
crimson velvet, topped by a crown of sky-blue 
plumes. At the foot of the throne was a beauti- 
ful little table of white marble on which Giannetto 
placed his three insects. Bowing to the King and 
the Princess, he said in a loud voice, ^'Carahd! 
Carabo! Carabi ! ” 

Instantly, the beetle began to play the guitar, 
the grasshopper to sing a beautiful song, and 
the spider to dance, keeping time in a wonder- 
ful way. The beetle and the grasshopper gave 
abundant proof of their skill, but the spider 
simply amazed everyone who saw it. It started 
with a Polish mazurka, then followed with a 
Roman tarantella, and ended with a stately prom- 
enade as carefully and as gravely performed as 
if on the stage of a great theater. The com- 
bination of so much grace and skill with such 
serious dignity in such tiny creatures was so 
comical that the Princess finally burst into hearty 
laughter. 

The King was so astonished at this result that 
he looked at the little performance as if in a 
dream. The courtiers, all of them dwarfs, smiled 
maliciously. The happy little Princess did not at 
first notice Giannetto, who with his insects had 


Sx\LVATOR TELLS A STORY 101 

succeeded, in a few minutes, in curing her of her 
sadness. 

Just as the King was about to announce that 
he would keep his promise, his counselors whis- 
pered to him that it would not be proper to give 
the Princess in marriage to a stranger of whom 
nobody knew anything and who was so very 
tall. It would be necessary, however, to find an 
excuse for breaking his word, and they suggested 
a good way for the King to get out of keeping his 
promise. 

The King and Princess with all others present 
then sat down to a joyful feast at which Giannetto, 
who was so much taller than any of the others, 
seemed a giant in comparison. When the meal 
was over, the King, standing on his tiptoes, took 
Giannetto’s hand. 

/‘My dear friend,” said the King, “from this 
moment I regard you as my son-in-law. But 
before you marry the Princess, I must fulfill a 
vow.” 

“What is it, your majesty.^” asked Giannetto. 

“I shall tell you in a few words. Not far from 
here lives an Ogre, who is my mortal enemy. I 
have waged war against him many times and I 
have finally compelled him to retire to his castle, 
situated on the summit of a lofty hill, in the midst 


102 THE ITALIAN FAMILY ROBINSON 


of a forest. This Ogre has the most beautiful 
and the most perfect horse in the world. This 
horse has the gift of speech and can talk just as 
well as you and I. Just before you cured my 
daughter, I made a vow that I would not give her 
hand in marriage to anyone, unless he brought 
me that horse.” 

“Is that all you wish me to do.^” asked Gian- 
netto. 

“That is all.” 

“Very well; I shall try to get him for you.” 

The King, well satisfied, retired from the ban- 
quet room, while Giannetto went to consult with 
his three insects. 

The beetle said, “Take this little ball of wax, 
given to me by a friend. When you arrive at the 
Ogre’s stables, divide it into two parts and place 
one in each of the horse’s ears. In this way you 
may take him wherever you will.” 

The grasshopper said, “You must know that 
the Ogre is passionately fond of music. At din- 
ner, after he has eaten all he wants, he plays the 
harp with much skill. Put me in your pocket 
and you will profit by his love of music.” 

With the wax and the grasshopper in his pocket, 
Giannetto set out for the castle, which was sur- 
rounded by a moat full of water. 


SALVATOR TELLS A STORY 103 

As Giannetto reached the castle, the Ogre 
descended from the upper air where he had 
been soaring. And, oh! how horrible he was 
to look at! His head was flat, his eyes were 
like fire, and his mouth was like a cave! He 
had the smallest kind of body and no legs! He 
had two immense wings, stretching out above 
his ears. While he wa^ flying in the air he was 
horrible but, strangely enough, when he was on 
the ground he looked more or less like other 
people. 

Giannetto fearlessly approached him, saying: 

“Good morning, sir; how do you do?” 

“Oh, I am very well,” answered the Ogre. 
“But who are you?” he continued in a terrible 
voice. “And what do you want on the top of 
my mountain?” 

“Sir, I am a poor homeless boy,” answered 
Giannetto. “I have run away from the city 
where I was persecuted by your enemies, the 
dwarfs, and I am looking for work that will 
enable me to make a living.” 

“What can you do?” 

“I can take care of horses.” 

“Very well. I happen just now to have one 
that needs special attention. He is not too big 
for you to handle, either. And for wages . . . 


104 THE ITALIAN FAMILY ROBINSON 

well, if you do your work well, I shall not eat 
you,” he concluded, with a horrible grin. 

When Giannetto found himself alone in the 
stable with the talking horse, he divided the wax 
ball into two parts and did as the beetle had told 
him. The wax gradually melted and the horse 
became perfectly deaf. 

Then, fastening spurs to his heels, Giannetto 
jumped on the horse’s back, drove the sharp 
points of his spurs into its flanks, and off they 
went at a gallop. All would have gone well had 
not the angry horse called out with a loud voice 
as they crossed the stable yard, “Master, master, 
take care! they are stealing me.” 

Immediately, the Ogre, followed by his wife 
and by many of his soldiers, ran out of the castle. 
Everything was in the greatest confusion, when 
suddenly the sweet voice of the grasshopper was 
heard singing. The Ogre and his soldiers, appar- 
ently forgetting all about the thief, stopped to 
listen as if enchanted. 

Taking advantage of this, Giannetto rode 
quickly away and, soon afterward, delivered the 
talking horse in triumph to his future father-in-law. 

The courtiers, filled with envy, felt compelled to 
congratulate Giannetto, in spite of their ill will. 
But when evening came they went to the King. 


SALVATOR TELLS A STORY 


105 


‘‘Your majesty,” they said, “your daughter’s 
suitor is indeed clever. Why don’t you take 
advantage of the fact and make him bring you 
the Ogre’s famous bedquilt.^” 

“I will,” said the King. 

So the next morning when Giannetto appeared 
before the King to claim the Princess, the King 
again put him off. He did not refuse to keep his 
promise, but said that during the night he had 
recalled another vow which must be fulfilled at 
once. 

“What is the vow, your majesty.^” asked 
Giannetto. 

“It is this,” said the King: “The Ogre has 
on his bed a quilt of surpassing beauty. It is 
of crimson silk and lace embroidery, with 
silver fringe. But that is not all. There is 
worked in the centejr a life-sized rooster that 
crows at daybreak as if. he were alive. On 
each of the four corners of the quilt is a hen 
that lays an egg as soon as the rooster crows. 
Thus the Ogre can have breakfast every morn- 
ing without leaving his bed. . I have made a 
vow to secure that wonderful quilt arid I am 
sure that you are the one to enable me to ful- 
*fill it. I shall give this quilt to my daughter as 
a bridal present.” 


106 THE ITALIAN FAMILY ROBINSON 

“Is that all you wish? Very well; I shall try 
to get the quilt,” said Giannetto. 

Giannetto was by this time convinced that the 
King was not sincere, but as he had determined 
to marry the Princess, he made up his mind to 
perform this task. 

He immediately consulted his three insect 
friends and, having received from them exact 
instructions, he started for the Ogre’s castle. 

When he reached it, he had great difficulty in 
crossing the moat. Then, when he tried to enter 
the castle, he found that every door and window 
was closed. The Ogre had become suspicious. 

Giannetto was just about to lose courage when 
the spider, which had crawled to the top of the 
castle wall, exclaimed: “Under yonder balcony I 
see a rope!” At the same time she let down a 
thread, which she had spun herself, and which 
was strong enough to bear the boy. By this rope 
Giannetto climbed to the top of the wall, and 
then making his way to the balcony, quickly 
climbed to the Ogre’s window by the rope the 
spider had pointed out. By good luck the win- 
dow was open, so that he soon found himself in 
the Ogre’s chamber, where he hid himself under 
the bed. 

The Ogre, who had retired early after a hearty 


SALVATOR TELLS A STORY 


107 


supper, was fast asleep and snoring loudly. After 
waiting a few minutes, Giannetto began very 
cautiously to pull off the quilt. When it was 
halfway off, the Ogre awoke and, thinking that 
the quilt had slipped, pulled it back and went to 
sleep again. Giannetto then pulled the quilt from 
the other side and soon it was all on the floor. 
But this time the Ogre was fully awake and, 
stretching out his arm in the dark to find the 
quilt, he grasped Giannetto ’s cap instead. 

“Thieves! Robbers! Light! Help!” he shouted, 
jumping out of bed. 

But Giannetto, grasping the quilt, had already 
jumped on to the window sill and, sliding down 
the rope to the ground, he quickly reached the 
wall, which by the help of another spider thread 
he climbed safely, and soon he and the friendly 
spider were on their way to the palace. 

When they reached the palace, Giannetto im- 
mediately delivered the magic quilt to the King. 
The envious courtiers were again compelled to 
praise him, although they were greatly annoyed 
at his success. They advised the King to give 
Giannetto a grand feast, but secretly, however, 
they determined to ruin the lad if they could. 
They therefore visited the King at night and said : 

“Your majesty, guard yourself well from this 


108 THE ITALIAN FAMILY ROBINSON 

dangerous young man. You are already under 
too many obligations to him, and fortune favors 
him entirely too much. If he becomes your 
son-in-law he will not expose himself to further 
dangers. He may even join forces with the Ogre 
against you. Strike, then, while the iron is hot, 
and insure your safety and that of the entire 
kingdom by demanding that he conquer the Ogre 
now and take his castle.” 

Now, the King, to do him justice, was natu- 
rally a kind-hearted man, and he did not wish to 
listen to the wicked courtiers. But fearing to 
anger them by refusing, and excited by the 
thought of taking the Ogre’s castle, he decided to 
follow their suggestion. 

Again Giannetto was called, and again his mar- 
riage with the Princess was postponed until the 
Ogre and his castle should be taken. 

Giannetto, as usual, said that he would try to 
do as the King wished. 

He immediately consulted with his good insect 
friends. The beetle told him to go to the castle, 
well provided with snuff. The grasshopper told 
him to secure a quantity of leaf tobacco and roll 
it into cigars, which he must take with him to the 
castle ; and the spider instructed him how he should 
use both the snuff and the cigars after he got there. 


SALVATOR TELLS A STORY 109 

Giannetto reached the^ castle during the ab- 
sence of the Ogre and made his way into the 
castle garden. The Ogre’s wife, who saw him 
examining the plants, asked him if he understood 
botany. 

“Yes, Madame Ogre, and I am especially 
expert in the cultivation of tobacco.” 

“That is very fortunate, young man, as my 
husband uses quantities of it. But how can I be 
certain of your skill she asked. 

“I will show proof of it, Madame Ogre. Here 
are some very fine cigars which are samples of 
what I can do in that line. I cheerfully present 
them to you as a gift for your husband. Here 
also is a box of most excellent snuff which will 
clear the head without making one sneeze.” 

“Snuff without sneezing!” cried the Ogre’s 
wife. “That is something I have wanted for a 
long time. I am just longing for a pinch of snuff, 
but as a gipsy one day told my husband that, if 
he should ever hear me sneeze four times, it 
would be the end of him, he won’t let me have 
any snuff. Just now, however, my husband is 
away and, if what you tell me is true, I shall 
have the great treat of taking a pinch of snuff.” 

Giannetto, who had just seen the Ogre flying 
in the distance, at once offered the snuff box, 


110 THE ITALIAN FAMILY ROBINSON 

saying, “Madame Ogre, you are welcome to help 
yourself.” 

“I am much obliged to you,” said the Ogre’s 
wife, as she took a generous pinch of snuff, “and, 
as a reward, I shall employ you as one of my 
gardeners.” 

“I thank you, Madame Ogre, with all my 
heart,” said Giannetto. 

“Ah! That snuff is indeed excellent,” said the 
Ogre’s wife, with a satisfied sniff. 

“Take as much as you wish, Madame Ogre. 
Meanwhile, I shall walk through the garden,” 
said Giannetto, who saw that the Ogre was about 
to alight. 

“You are at liberty to do as you please,” she 
replied. 

In a few minutes the Ogre descended and his 
wife gave him the present of cigars Giannetto had 
left for him. 

While he was smoking peacefully, his wife gave 
a tremendous sneeze, which she repeated three 
times, each time more loudly than before. At 
the firs^t sneeze, the Ogre was greatly surprised; 
at the second he trembled with fear; at the third 
he took flight, rising rapidly in the air. 

The Ogre’s wife, remembering what the gipsy 
had foretold and fearing for her own life, fled 


SALVATOR TELLS A STORY 


111 


from the castle, — up steeps, over rocks, and into 
ravines, until at last she fell over a precipice, 
breaking her neck. Meanwhile, the Ogre, blind 
with fear, knocked his monstrous head with such 
force against the side of the mountain that he 
died from the blow. 

Giannetto, who had seen everything from the 
top of a tall tree, returned to the castle, where, 
fastening a white sheet to a long pole, he placed 
it on the highest tower of the castle. He then 
returned to the royal palace, shouting: 

“Victory! Victory! Your majesty, the castle 
is yours.” 

It would seem that, after so many trials, the 
King would be obliged to keep his promise to 
Giannetto without further delay. But bad faith 
is rich in excuses, and envious persons are never 
poor in wickedness and fraud. 

By means of spies the courtiers had succeeded 
in discovering how Giannetto had worked so 
many wonders and how he had been able to 
triumph over every obstacle. They realized that, 
so long as he had such powerful friends as the 
three insects, he would be able to defeat all their 
plots and that in the end he would become the 
King’s son-in-law. 

After his last triumph, Giannetto believed that 


m THE ITALIAN FAMILY ROBINSON 

there was nothing for him to do but to appear 
before the King and call upon him to keep his 
promise. But, to his disappointment, the King, 
prompted by his courtiers, instead of giving him 
the Princess, said: 

“My dear son, you know by that name how 
much I love and esteem you. But since you have 
shown me how greatly you value niy peace of 
mind, I must tell you that my greatest desire 
now is to complete my wonderful collection of 
insects. In order to do this, I need the magic 
beetle of Egypt, the magic grasshopper of Pales- 
tine, and the magic spider of Assyria. I have just 
learned that you are the owner of all three insects. 
Now I want you to make me a present of them. 
If you will do this, I shall see that they are fas- 
tened with silver pins in a beautiful glass case on 
a rich pedestal inscribed with these words, ‘A gift 
from my son Giannetto.’ As your name will be 
carved in letters of gold, you will be admired and 
honored both by my present subjects and by their 
children’s children.” 

His majesty believed that the young man would 
agree to this request, just as he had to the pre- 
vious requests, but he was mistaken. Giannetto, 
whose face showed his anger and disgust, hesitated 
for a moment and then replied bravely: 


SALVATOR TELLS A STORY 113 

“Your majesty, I am well aware that you have 
evil counselors. But even if you, forgetting your 
dignity, allow yourself to be misled by them, I 
cannot forget or be ungrateful to those faithful 
little friends who have helped me so often and so 
well. These harmless insects have been my bene- 
factors and I owe them eternal gratitude. Keep 
your daughter and keep your kingdom. I desire 
neither the one nor the other. But as for my 
dear insect friends, they shall not fall into your 
hands, to be pinned in your collection, nor into 
the claws of your wicked courtiers.” 

The King, although ashamed in his heart, was 
nevertheless exceedingly angry at Giannetto’s 
bold words, and the matter might have ended 
badly for our hero had not a most unexpected 
thing happened. 

As the King was about to speak, three beauti- 
ful, noble-looking young girls entered the hall. 
They were of medium height and very richly 
dressed. Advancing to the throne, they bowed 
most graciously to the King, and then, turning 
to Giannetto, the tallest of them said: 

“My dear Giannetto, the brave words which 
you have just spoken, and which we heard in 
the other room, have fully convinced us of the 
nobility of your character. We are three fairies, 


114 


THE ITALIAN FAMILY ROBINSON 


sisters, who, by the enchantment of a wicked 
magician, were changed into the three insects you 
have just befriended. In this form, we were 
obliged to suffer for our fault, which was pride, 
and to continue in the form of insects until we 
had found some one generous enough to be willing 
to sacrifice himself for us. You have freed us, 
and you have earned our undying gratitude and 
affection. As a proof of the sentiment we feel 
toward you, we now proclaim you as the King 
of our country. 

“We can assure you that as our King you will 
be very happy, for our people are very loyal to 
their sovereign, and they will defend you from all 
enemies. Like the old Irish wolf dog, they are 

‘Gentle when stroked 
But fierce when provoked,’ ” 

concluded the fairy. 

The King and his courtiers were speechless 
with amazement, but Giannetto^ who was as we 
have seen a fluent talker, said: 

“My dear Lady, I do not deserve so much 
honor, as I have done only that which I thought 
was my duty. One must never forget a kindness, 
and one is fortunate when he has the opportunity 
to show his gratitude. Nevertheless, since you 


SALVATOR TELLS A STORY 


115 


and your sisters wish to honor me so greatly, I 
shall not refuse your kindness. I therefore accept 
the throne you offer, and I hope to prove myself 
worthy of it. May I make one condition, how- 
ever: that you and your sisters remain near me 
always as my friends and advisers.?” 

As Giannetto finished speaking, the three 
sisters approached him and, extending their 
right hands, they said with the solemnity of an 
oath: 

“We shall always be the faithful friends of 
King Giannetto.” 

“And so,” concluded Salvator, “Giannetto 
and his fairies went . . . guess where.” 

“To his kingdom,” cried Junius. 

“By no means,” said Salvator. 

“But, why not.?” demanded Junius. 

“Because Giannetto could not live happily in 
his new kingdom without first obtaining his 
father’s pardon. Therefore they all went first to 
his father’s home.” 

“Did his father pardon him.?” asked Junius. 

“Of course he did, after making him promise 
to be obedient in the future,” replied Salvator. 

“Obedient even when he was King.?” asked 
Junius. 


116 THE ITALIAN FAMILY ROBINSON 

“Even when he was a King,” replied Salvator. 
“And with this understanding his father con- 
sented to accompany Giannetto to his new 
kingdom, where they all lived happily ever 
afterward.” 

“And now let us all go to bed,” said Doctor 
Paul. 


CHAPTER X 


SALVATOR AND CYRUS EXPLORE 

Next morning Cyrus was the first to arise. He 
had lain awake a great part of the night think- 
ing of the excursion into the interior of the 
island that Salvator had proposed and which, 
would, perhaps, have much that was pleasant and 
much that was unpleasant in store for them. 

Salvator soon joined him outside the tent, 
greatly pleased to find Cyrus ready so early. 
Then very quietly they loosed the dogs and, just 
as the sun was rising in splendor from the sea, 
they started off in the direction of the forest. 
Each carried an ax in his belt and a mtisket on 
his shoulder, in addition to a bag of provisions 
on his back. 

“These axes are certainly heavy,” said Cyrus, 
as they went forward at a good pace. “Why did 
we bring them.^” 

“We shall use them to mark our road. If we 
did not do this, it might be difficult to find our 
way back,” answered Salvator. 


118 THE ITALIAN FAMILY ROBINSON 


‘‘To tell the truth, I don’t see how we can 
mark a road with axes,” said Cyrus. 

“You will soon see,” said Salvator. “From time 
to time, as we go deeper into the forest, we shall 
blaze the trees, as the Americans say.” 

“But the blaze may spread,” objected Cyrus. 

“To blaze a tree has nothing to do with fire,” 
replied Salvator, laughing. “It simply means to 
chip the trunks of the trees with the edge of the 
ax. The blow must be hard enough to loosen 
some of the bark so that the cut, or blaze, as it 
is called, will remain visible.” 

“That is a very good method of marking the 
path,” said Cyrus. “Did savage natives invent 
this plan.^” 

“No. I rather think it was made use of by 
the first colonists in America. The savages have 
other methods by which they can find their way 
out of the densest forests.” 

“I remember some of them,” said Cyrus. 
“They tell by the moss on the trunks, by 
the direction in which the branches grow, 
and — ” 

“Yes,” interrupted Salvator, “and you must 
not forget that savages have fine hearing and 
very sharp sight.” 

Meanwhile, as they went along, they made 


SALVATOR AND CYRUS EXPLORE 119 

notches in the trees with their axes from time to 
time. 

“I hope that this precaution will be sufficient,” 
said Salvator. “In case it should not, I have 
brought with me a most valuable companion.” 

“I don’t see him,” said Cyrus. 

Salvator laughed again. Then, taking a small 
object out of his pocket, he held it up before 
Cyrus. 

“Ah! Captain Sturla’s compass. Salvator, 
you think of everything!” exclaimed Cyrus, ad- 
miringly. 

“Not of everything, but of many things,” said 
Salvator, modestly. “Just now I am thinking 
especially of the necessity of finding a spring of 
fresh water, without which we cannot exist on 
the island,” he added. 

“But didn’t you tell us the other night that we 
were certain to find water 

“Yes; I told you that, because the rich vege- 
tation of the island proves to me that there is 
water on the island. But where is it? That is 
the great question. It may be hidden in the 
bowels of the earth, so that we shall have to dig 
for it. But why bother ourselves about that 
now?” added Salvator. “Let us rather get ahead 
as far as possible on our journey.” 


no THE ITALIAN FAMILY ROBINSON 

“How far do you expect to go?” asked Cyrus. 

“Until we reach the other side of the island, — ■ 
the side that is opposite to the wind,” replied 
Salvator. 

“What do you mean by ‘opposite to the 
wind’?” asked Cyrus. 

“In these latitudes the wind blows almost 
constantly from one of two directions. One of 
the shores, therefore, is always exposed to the 
wind, while the other is sheltered. The marine 
terms for these two conditions are windward and 
leeward, which names are applied to the opposite 
shores of an island. I should also tell you that 
our camp is on the windward shore. The wdnd, 
therefore, ought to blow now on our. backs, — a 
matter which is very easy to prove.” 

“How can you prove it when there is now 
hardly any wind?” laughed Cyrus. 

“Lift a finger in the air,” said Salvator. 

Cyrus obeyed. 

“I don’t feel the slightest thing,” he declared. 

“Now moisten your finger and lift it again,” 
said Salvator. 

“Oh! yes; now I feel the air! But why?” 
asked Cyrus. 

“Because your finger, being moist, is more 
sensitive to the breeze.” 


SALVATOR AND CYRUS EXPLORE 121 

They plodded on in silence. Suddenly Cyrus, 
who was a step or two in advance of Salvator, 
stopped short. ‘‘Listen!” he said in a low voice. 
“Do you hear that noise?” 

“It is the dogs growling,” said Salvator, after 
listening a moment. “Something is the matter 
ahead of us. Do not move from here. I shall be 
back in a moment.” 

Grasping his gun, Salvator rushed toward the 
dogs, which were now barking furiously. Cyrus 
had barely lost sight of his companion when he 
heard a loud burst of laughter, and a moment 
later the pigs that had been brought from the 
Tirreno ran past him, followed by the dogs at 
full speed, barking and yelping with excitement. 

“Here, Fox! Here, Spot!” cried Salvator, as 
he and Cyrus resumed their journey. But the 
dogs paid not the slightest attention to him. 

“They will soon tire of chasing those pigs,” 
said Salvator. And so it proved, for ten or fifteen 
minutes later the dogs reappeared panting and 
blown. The pigs had evidently escaped them by 
pushing into the thickest parts of the forest, where 
the dogs were unable or unwilling to follow them. 

“Well, my boy, our first adventure was not so 
very terrible, was it?” said Salvator, smiling. 

“No; I only hope we may meet with nothing 


122 THE ITALLVN FAMILY ROBINSON 

more dangerous,” answered Cyrus. ‘‘But I must 
admit that I was badly frightened for a mo- 
ment.” 

“You were not really frightened. You have 
too much courage and presence of mind to be 
frightened so easily,” said Salvator. “If you had 
been really frightened, you would probably have 
run away.” 

“I hope, Salvator, that I shall never be as 
frightened as that. I don’t think I’d run away 
as long as I thought you were in danger.” 

“Well, fortunately we don’t have to worry 
about that, just now. It is necessary, however, 
not only to be courageous but also to be prudent. 
So let us be ready for anything.” As he spoke, 
Salvator examined both guns carefully. “Many 
accidents are occasioned by not being prepared,” 
he added. 

After four hours of steady traveling, they began 
to feel somewhat tired. They had reached a 
small open space which resembled a meadow cov- 
ered with a fresh carpet of green, studded with 
flowers and surrounded by trees. As they stopped 
to rest, both at the same moment were struck 
with the same idea. 

“Suppose we eat something! Aren’t you hun- 
gry, Salvator.^” asked Cyrus. 


SALVATOR AND CYRUS EXPLORE 123 


“I was just thinking that it must be nearly 
dinner time/’ replied the older man. 

They sat down in the shadow of a flowering 
acacia and, opening their provision bags, they 
took out what they needed for their first meal. 

The dogs stuck close to Cyrus, knowing him to 
be generous with them in the matter of food. He 
was already pouring some water into a tin bowl 
for them, when Salvator stopped him, saying, 

“Not a drop of water to the dogs, Cyrus.” 

“But the poor things are thirsty. See how 
their tongues hang out!” 

“So much the better,” replied Salvator. “The 
thirstier the dogs are, the more useful they will be. 
You will see how, very soon. Meanwhile, we 
must finish our dinner and not lose time in need- 
less chatter. We have still to travel a good dis- 
tance. According to my calculations we are not 
half way.” 

In a very few minutes they had finished eating 
and were again on the march. After they had 
gone about three miles further, our travelers 
found themselyes in a part of the island much 
more rugged than the side on which they had 
landed. The soil was uneven and stony, and 
here and there small, rocky hills barred their 
way, which was now upward. 


124 THE ITALIAN FAMILY ROBINSON 

“Our road is becoming more and more difficult, 
Salvator,” said Cyrus. 

“We should not complain of that, Cyrus.” 

“Why not.^^” 

“Because the more uneven the ground the more 
easy it will be to get at the water that must be 
underground; unless, of course, we should be 
fortunate enough to find a surface spring.” 

Another hill rose directly ahead of them. 
Cyrus was very tired. The perspiration fell in 
large drops from his forehead. Even the two 
dogs were exhausted and followed with drooping 
ears and tails and outstretched tongues. From 
time to time they gave a low whine, as much 
as to say, “It’s time to rest.” Salvator, how- 
ever, continued to walk on with firm and steady 
step. 

At the foot of the hill, Cyrus was plainly dis- 
couraged. 

“Cheer up, Cyrus!” said Salvator. “When we 
reach the top, I can assure you that you will not 
regret the effort.” 

“Forward, then!” agreed Cyrus. 

The ascent was most difficult. The underbrush 
was so dense that they were often obliged to use 
their axes to clear a path. At last, after stren- 
uous exertion, they reached the summit, where, 


SALVATOR AND CYRUS EXPLORE 125 


as Salvator had said, all their weariness was 
forgotten. 

The summit appeared to be quite an extensive 
plateau covered here and there with verdant 
groves of cocoanut and other palms and banana 
trees. Beyond the plateau, they could see a long, 
bright strip which reflected the sun’s rays like a 
mirror. 

“The sea! The sea!” exclaimed both, as if 
with one voice. 

“How I wish mother could see this!” exclaimed 
Cyrus. “If she thinks the other side of the island 
is beautiful, what would she say to this!” 

In fact no more beautiful scene could be im- 
agined or desired. In the distance, the forest 
trees stopped abruptly at the edge of the clearing. 
A gentle slope covered with dense vegetation led 
to another green expanse, level enough to arouse 
envy in the most skillful Dutch gardener. This 
second meadow was separated from the sea by 
a strip of brilliant, white, sandy beach broken 
here and there by groups of fantastically shaped 
rocks. The beach at this point curved like a 
horseshoe, forming a bay, which was also a fine 
natural harbor. The sea was deep blue save 
where, breaking on rocks that glistened like 
mother of pearl, it broke in creamy foam. 


126 THE ITALIAN FAMILY ROBINSON 

The rocks, which extended seaward for a dis- 
tance of three or four miles like sentinels keeping 
guard, were thickly covered with birds. From 
time to time some of these dived head first into 
the water, quickly reappearing with fish in their 
beaks. Others contented themselves with skim- 
ming the surface, barely touching it with their 
wings, while the mother birds brooded tranquilly 
on their nests, or fed their young. 

For some little time Salvator and Cyrus stood 
in silence admiring the view. Salvator’s gaze 
went from the rocks along the shore to the bay, 
then to the horizon, all of which he observed 
carefully. 

“No one has ever seen a more beautiful spot!” 
exclaimed Cyrus, breaking the silence at last. 

“Yes, the surroundings are perfect, but I would 
admire them still more if we had found fresh 
water!” responded Salvator. 

“Oh, dear! I had quite forgotten that,” said 
the weary Cyrus. 

“As I have already told you, the lack of fresh 
water would soon compel us to leave the island 
or perish with thirst.” 

“It is a pretty serious thing, isn’t it.?” said 
Cyrus. “I don’t wonder you are troubled.” 

“I believe this island is one of a group, some of 





V 










. . SALVATOR AND CYRUS STOOD 


. . ADMIRING THE VIEW. 


128 THE ITALIAN FAMILY ROBINSON 


which may be inhabited. It is quite clear to me 
now that this one is not inhabited, and that it is 
probably the outermost and, therefore, the most 
isolated of the group,” said Salvator, thought- 
fully. 

“What makes you think that.^” asked Cyrus. 

“Because, wherever I have gazed I have been 
unable to find any sign of land. But let us not 
worry too much. I think it is time to rest and 
eat again.” 

“Let us go down on the seashore,” said Cyrus. 

“Yes; but first let us blaze these trees at the 
end of our path. In case of danger we could 
then quickly find the beginning of our road back.” 

No sooner had our travelers finished their re- 
past than they set out to explore the shore of the 
bay. 

“If anyone could see us,” said Cyrus, “he 
would take us for idlers.” 

“And he would not be far wrong,” replied 
Salvator. “The day is nearly gone and we have 
not accomplished anything worth while.” 

They walked on in silence. . . . 

“What are you looking at so attentively, Sal- 
vator.^” asked Cyrus after a few minutes. 

“I am trying to make out that whitish strip 
yonder that slopes from the hill directly toward 


SALVATOR AND CYRUS EXPLORE 


129 


the sea. If I am not mistaken it is the dry bed 
of a small stream.” 

‘‘And supposing you are right, Salvator; what 
then.^” 

“Just this: that if there is water on the island 
we ought to find it somewhere in that direction.^ 
To-morrow we shall explore in that direction. If 
we find water there, we must next search for a 
safe spot in the bay where we can land our boat. 
It is my intention to bring here by sea every- 
thing from the camp, and whatever else we can 
get from the Tirreno. The journey through the 
forest is too difficult to bring these things by 
land. It would be an undertaking far beyond 
our strength.” 

A cry of delight from Cyrus interrupted Sal- 
vator. 

“Do you see that beautiful flower.^” he ex- 
claimed, pointing to the edge of the water. 

“Why don’t you pick it.^” said Salvator, with 
a smile. 

Cyrus at once ran to the water’s edge and 
stooped to reach the flower, but to his surprise 
it closed up at his touch. 

“It is a living flower!” he cried. “It felt like 
flesh!” 

“It is flesh, living flesh,” said Salvator. “That 


130 


THE ITALIAN FAMILY ROBINSON 


animal is difficult to classify. It is neither a 
mollusk nor a fish and is known as the sea 
anemone. The natural history of the ocean is 
one of the most admirable pages in the story 
of Creation. If I had only been able to go to 
school more when I was a boy, I should have 
devoted myself to this branch of learning. My 
whole mind would have been given to this one 
subject. But look!” he exclaimed; “I have just 
made another discovery!” 

With the barrel of his gun the old sailor pointed 
out a large brownish mass some distance ahead, 
whieh appeared to be digging a hole in the sand. 

“What in the world is that.^” asked Cyrus. 

“It is an unusually large sea turtle,” said 
Salvator. “It has probably come ashore to lay 
its eggs.” 

“Is sea turtle as good to eat as land turtle.^” 
inquired Cyrus. 

“It is very much finer flavored and more 
nutritious,” answered Salvator. 

“Then we can all have plenty of turtle soup, 
unless the turtle we see is only here by chance. 
In that case, good-by to turtle soup for us!” said 
Cyrus, laughing. 

“There ought to be plenty of them about 
here,” said Salvator. “They come to land at 


SALVATOR AND CYRUS EXPLORE 131 

certain times in the year to lay their eggs in the 
sand.” 

“That means that we can only eat them occa- 
sionally, then.” 

“They can be eaten all the year round if we 
will take the trouble to dig a pond, where they 
can be kept without escaping,” said Salvator. 

“That is another thing we must do after we 
have found water and moved our camp,” said 
Cyrus. “Can they be caught easily?” he asked. 

“Yes. But they must be approached cau- 
tiously so as to avoid getting a shower of sand 
in the face, for the turtles, using their hind feet 
for that purpose, hurl it with great force against 
their assailants. It is best to attack them from 
the front and then turn them over on their backs. 
In this position they can neither defend them- 
selves nor even get on their feet again.” 

By this time, they had reached the end of the 
bay. Here the coast made a sharp turn so that 
a part of the sea formerly hidden now came into 
view. Suddenly Salvator uttered a loud excla- 
mation. 

“Look, Cyrus!” he cried. “Look yonder, and 
tell me what you see,” pointing off shore. 

“It looks like another island!” said Cyrus. 

“It is an island, I am sure, although it is barely 


132 THE ITALIAN FAMILY ROBINSON 


visible. Some day we may be able to investigate, 
if God spares our lives,” said Salvator. “But 
come, Cyrus, before it gets dark we must find a 
sheltered spot where we can pass the night in 
safety.” 

“Do you think we are in any danger.^” asked 
Cyrus, anxiously. 

“No. But who can tell.^” said Salvator. 
“Eight days ago, for example, you never dreamed 
that circumstances would compel you to sleep 
under the open sky on a desert island, guarded 
only by an old sailor, as you will do to-night.” 

Walking a short distance back from the shore, 
Salvator selected as their sleeping place a shel- 
tered spot at the foot of some overhanging rocks. 
After a light meal, Cyrus fed the two dogs. Then, 
after Salvator, on his knees, had asked God to 
protect them during the night, our two travelers 
stretched themselves beside Spot and Fox and 
were soon sound asleep, too tired even to dream. 


CHAPTER XI 


SALVATOR AND CYRUS SELECT A NEW CAMP 

On awaking next morning Cyrus and Salvator 
were greatly surprised to find the sun already high 
in the heavens. They had slept more than ten 
hours as comfortably as those who, after having 
passed many nights in the open, finally rest in a 
good bed sheltered from the weather. 

Almost before they were on their feet they 
heard a confused noise of whining some distance 
away. 

‘‘What can that be.^” said Cyrus. 

“It must be the dogs,” said Salvator. “As 
they were so thirsty, they are probably searching 
for water,” he added. 

“Poor things! I tell you, Salvator, that al- 
though I have a keen appetite this morning, I 
shall not be able to touch a morsel of food unless 
you let me give the dogs a little water.” 

“Very well, then, you will. have to stay hungry, 
for I cannot grant your request. Let the dogs 
search for water if they are thirsty,” said Salvator, 


134 THE ITALIAN FAMILY ROBINSON 

rather sternly. “Do you not understand that 
the dogs, driven by their great thirst, may find 
water before we do.^” 

Cyrus at last understood Salvator’s apparent 
cruelty. 

“Do you really believe the dogs will find 
water he asked. 

“If there is any here, I firmly believe they will. 
Let us get our breakfast now, my boy, and leave 
the dogs for a while to their own devices.” 

Soon they were eating their frugal breakfast of 
bread and cheese with some fresh bananas which 
Cyrus had picked from the trees near by. 

Suddenly they heard the dogs again. This 
time, instead of whining, they were uttering a 
succession of short, sharp barks. From the sound, 
they could not be very far away. 

“Do you hear that.^” cried Salvator, in great 
excitement. “I will wager they have found water 
already ! Come on, Cyrus, let us find out at 
once,” he added, jumping to his feet and starting 
to run in the direction of the barking, with Cyrus 
at his heels. 

It was just as Salvator expected. The dogs, 
half mad with thirst, had sniffed about until they 
found a spring of the precious liquid, and Fox and 
Spot were drinking as though they could never get 


SELECTING A NEW CAMP 


135 


enough. The spring, half hidden in a large pool 
shaded by trees, was so clear and limpid that one 
could easily see the pebbles and sand at the bottom. 
The water that overflowed from the pool had dug 
out a little channel by which it wandered slowly 
to the sea, murmuring softly between the rocks. 

With a most fervent “Thank God,” Salvator 
and Cyrus returned to finish their breakfast, 
giving a double portion to each of the dogs, as a 
reward for their intelligence. 

have decided,” said the old sailor, as they 
finished, “now that we have found an abundance 
of water, that we shall settle on this side of the 
island. Here everything is favorable, — the air, 
the sea, and the vegetation. Besides, on this 
side we can see the other land.” 

“Do you think the other land is inhabited.^” 
asked Cyrus. 

“No; I do not believe it is inhabited. If it 
were, we would surely have found some traces of 
the natives on this island, as it is so near. I hope 
it is not inhabited, for I should not like to think 
that only a few miles away there exists a con- 
tinually threatening danger from which we could 
find no escape.” 

“What do you fear, Salvator.?” asked Cyrus, in 
an anxious tone. 


136 THE ITALIAN FAMILY ROBINSON 

“Knowing what I know about the natives of 
the islands in this latitude, I fear cannibals,” 
he answered. 

“I have read dreadful stories about cannibals,” 
said Cyrus. 

“Not everything we read is true, of course. 
But on the other hand, we cannot say that every- 
thing they tell about cannibals in these islands is 
false. In any case, let us thank Providence that 
we have so far escaped that danger,” said Salva- 
tor, solemnly. “But,” he continued, “we must 
lose no time talking. Who knows what other 
surprise is in store for us.^” 

They started to explore the bay in the direc- 
tion opposite to the one taken the day before. 
As they advanced, they drew nearer to a bold, 
roeky cape, whieh extended a considerable dis- 
tance into the sea. The water was so still and 
so transparent that whole schools of fish could be 
distinctly seen from the shore. 

“That looks like a shark over there,” said 
Cyrus pointing to a dark shadow on the surface 
of the water. 

“Yes, that is a shark,” said Salvator, “and it 
is of a very large kind. But there must be more 
than one, for these animals frequent the lee 
shores of these islands in large numbers. Later 


SELECTING A NEW CAMP 


137 


on, after we build our house, we shall dig an 
inlet in which we can bathe without fear of 
sharks. But it is time now to get back,” he 
added. 

“Can’t we go round the point of the island.^” 
asked Cyrus. 

“To what purpose.^” answered Salvator. “We 
have seen all that is necessary. What we have 
to do now is to carry the good news to our 
dear ones in the camp. Your mother must be 
worried about you. Besides, it is a long dis- 
tance back to the entrance to the wood, where 
our return journey really begins. Before we 
start we will lighten our bags by hiding near 
the spring all our provisions except just enough 
to last the journey back. We must not forget, 
however, to fill a large flask with water from 
the spring.” 

“Two, two, Salvator; one to drink on the road, 
and the other for those who expect us at home.” 

“At home.^” said Salvator, smiling. “Already 
you call it home!” 

“Well, in the camp then, if you like that better. 
Anyway,” he added, after a moment’s silence, 
“whether it is home or not, I never felt happier 
in my life than I do now.” 

“Nor I,” said Salvator. “The good God must 


138 THE ITALIAN FAMILY ROBINSON 


be with us, since he permits us to be so happy,” 
he added. 

“The good God!” repeated Cyrus. “For many 
years I was almost ashamed to put those two 
words together. The expression seemed to me a 
childish one which I could not use as I grew older. 
But since the shipwreck and our experience on 
this island, I cannot call Him anything but the 
good God!” 

“That is because you now understand how 
weak and helpless man is alone. You now know 
that man, whatever may be his strength and 
intelligence, is but a stammering infant in the 
presence of his Creator. Yes, in growing older, 
we change, but God is always the same. He is 
always the good God who protects and blesses 
us,” concluded Salvator, speaking more to himself 
than to Cyrus. . . . 

At one part of the coast the travelers, who 
were now walking quickly, stopped before a 
singular spectacle. Great numbers of sea birds 
were resting on the shore and not, as is their 
custom, skimming the surface of the waves. At 
the approach of Cyrus and Salvator they rose in 
thousands, forming a huge cloud above their 
heads; then they gradually settled again. 

“What are all those birds doing.?” asked Cyrus. 


SELECTING A NEW CAMP 


139 


‘‘Let us wait and see. I promise you the sight 
will amuse you.” 

Salvator had hardly finished speaking when a 
vast quantity of small fish near the shore suddenly 
leaped into the air, and then fell upon the sand in 
a living, squirming heap, which gradually covered 
the entire shore. This was evidently what the birds 
were waiting for, as they immediately settled and 
then rose, each carrying a fish in his curved beak. 

“What stupid fish!” exclaimed Cyrus. “What 
possessed them to come on shore?” 

“The instinct of self-preservation,” answered 
Salvator. “The smaller fish leaped on the shore 
to escape from larger fish that were pursuing 
them from behind.” 

“Ah! Now I understand,” said Cyrus; “so 
that, between the two — ” 

“The birds have had a feast,” concluded 
Salvator. “A drowning man, you know, will 
grasp at a straw to save himself.”* 

“But what I still do not understand is the 
presence of the birds just when the fish were 
being driven on shore.” 

“Sea birds have very keen sight,” said Sal- 
vator. “They probably had been watching the 
chase from above.” 


* The Italians say, “A drowning man will grasp at a razor.’ 


140 THE ITALIAN FAMILY ROBINSON 


At this moment the dogs returned, barking and 
wagging their tails with a most knowing air. 

“What do you think they want to tell us.^” 
asked Cyrus. “Good Spot! Good Fox! What 
have you found now.^” 

“They have probably found another spring,” 
said Salvator. 

The old sailor was right. Following the dogs’ 
lead away from the shore, they soon reached a 
sort of natural grotto or cave, where they could 
hear the sound of water dropping. Just inside the 
grotto was a small pool of clear fresh water, which 
was evidently fed by a spring farther inside. The 
dogs, by a great wagging of tails and a series 
of short, joyful barks, plainly invited them to 
drink. 

After a deep refreshing draught of the finest 
water they had ever tasted, they filled their 
flasks and, turning their backs upon the grotto, 
began with light hearts their long journey back 
to the camp on the other side of the island. 


CHAPTER XII 


THE EXPLORERS RETURN TO CAMP 

Salvator and his young companion, guided by 
the blazed trees, made the return journey through 
the forest in four hours, although two days before 
it had taken eight. Long before they were in 
sight of the tents, the dogs rushed ahead, an- 
nouncing their approach by joyous barking. 

Doctor Paul and Junius ran forward to meet 
the returning travelers, and you may well believe 
they were given a most hearty and joyous wel- 
come. 

‘'God be praised,” exclaimed Madame Paul, 
as they reached the tents. “You have returned 
safely!” 

“Safe and sound, and with good news,” said 
Salvator. “We have found a most beautiful 
spot in which to settle, where there is an abun- 
dance of fresh water, the want of which I so 
greatly dreaded. In a few days we shall remove 
from here, taking the tents and all our be- 
longings.” 


142 THE ITALIAN FAMILY ROBINSON 

“So soon?” asked Madame Paul. 

“The sooner, the better, in this case, dear 
Adelaide,” said Doctor Paul. “For in this fine 
place that Salvator and Cyrus have found, we 
shall not only have plenty of fresh water near at 
hand, but we shall be able to make a much more 
comfortable place to live in than we could possibly 
do here. We are going to build a house up there, 
you know,” he added. 

Just then, Selena announced that supper, which 
had been put forward in honor of the returning 
travelers, was ready. The latter needed no 
second call, and soon they, with the others, were 
seated before a well-cooked meal of mutton stew, 
potatoes, bread, and coffee. 

Salvator and Cyrus naturally did most of the 
talking, as everybody else was anxious to hear the 
story of their adventures. Each in turn therefore 
was obliged to relate what he had seen and done 
during the trip to the other side of the island. 

Giselda and Junius sighed with relief as Sal- 
vator concluded. 

“The dogs were just splendid!” said Junius. 
“But I thought there would be some fairies in 
the grotto,” he grumbled. 

“Shall I tell you a fairy story?” asked Salvator. 

“Oh, please do!” cried Junius and Giselda. 


143 


THE RETURN TO CAMP 

Salvator turned to the Doctor, saying, ‘‘With 
your permission I shall now begin.” 

ANOTHER STORY 

The beautiful country of Omuncoli, on which 
the treasures of nature were bountifully showered, 
was once ruled over by King Double. He was 
given that name because he had two mouths, two 
noses, and three eyes. 

King Double was a very large man and, when 
he rode through the streets of his capital wearing 
the K)yal cloak and with the kingly crown on his 
head, he inspired the greatest respect and loyalty 
in the proudest and most powerful princes of his 
kingdom. 

Although he was immensely rich and much 
loved by his subjects, he was not happy. Every 
time he looked at himself in the beautiful mirror 
that covered one whole wall of his bedchamber, 
he felt very sad. This sadness, however, was 
not, as you would think, because he was different 
in appearance from other men. He grieved over 
the remembrance of an event that had saddened 
the first years of his reign. 

In his youth he was called, not King Double 
but King Prestante, because of his great quick- 
ness in both mind and body. At the age of 


144 THE ITALIAN FAMILY ROBINSON 

eighteen he was the most handsome youth in his 
father’s kingdom and, because this gift of beauty 
was united to a heart of gold and to a generous 
and loyal character, he was admired by all. 

Many young princesses, the richest, the noblest 
and the most beautiful in the neighboring king- 
doms, were eager to share his throne; but he had 
then no thought of marriage. He cared only for 
his future career. He wished to become a great 
and good king and to bring under his wise rule 
certain neighboring people that suffered under 
cruel rulers. 

As soon as he was crowned, he set to work at 
once to do good to others. At first everything 
prospered according to his wishes. The wicked 
kings and princes submitted whether they wished 
to or not, and thousands of happy subjects were 
added to those already in his own kingdom. 

But soon misfortune befell King Prestante, 
bringing sorrow and desolation to all his kingdom. 
Furibondo, a wicked and misshapen man, who 
was the king of a country at no great distance, 
prepared to invade the kingdom of Prestante 
with a large army. 

King Prestante lost no time in organizing 
his faithful and courageous subjects into a great 
army, which moved immediately against the 


THE RETURN TO CAMP 


145 


enemy, challenging him to battle. In the great 
conflict that followed, Furibondo the Cruel came 
forth victorious, King Prestante being taken pris- 
oner and made a slave. 

One night, as he was about to fall asleep in his 
miserable hut, a bright light suddenly filled the 
room and an ugly old woman appeared before him. 

“King Prestante,” she said, “I have come to 
offer you freedom.” * 

King Prestante was overjoyed, and was about 
to embrace the old woman as a sign of gratitude, 
when she raised her hand. 

“I shall restore your freedom, but on one 
condition,” she said. 

“Speak, my good dame,” replied the happy 
king, “and if your condition is not contrary to the 
principles of honor, I shall gladly do as you wish.” 

“I shall grant you your liberty on condition 
that you marry me.” 

King Prestante gazed at the old woman in 
amazement. 

“Marry you!” he exclaimed. “But you are 
an old woman, and I know nothing about you!” 

“Then you refuse to marry me.^” asked the old 
woman, angrily. 

“Yes, I do refuse,” answered King Prestante, 
firmly. 


146 THE ITALIAN FAMILY ROBINSON 

“Do you then prefer to remain a prisoner for 
life?” 

“Yes; rather than marry you!” he replied. 

“Are you not afraid to refuse one who has 
power enough to set you free?” she exclaimed in 
a threatening tone. 

“No, I do not fear you,” he answered calmly. 

“Think, King Prestante!” she exclaimed. 
“Once you are free you can regain the throne 
of your fathers; you can again become lord and 
master of the lands that King Furibondo has 
taken from you.” 

“That makes no difference. I do not want to 
marry you,” replied the king. 

“Very well, then. Since you do not want to 
marry me, I shall change your appearance so that 
no one will ever want to marry you!” 

And the ferocious old woman, waving her hands 
before King Prestante’s face, exclaimed, “By the 
powers of Avernus, let this man’s face be made 
so repulsive that no one will look at him.” 

The young king, brave though he was, felt his 
blood run cold and he could scarcely breathe. 

“Behold! it is done,” cried the witch, after a 
moment’s silence. “No one will ever take you 
for a husband. Look at yourself,” she added, 
thrusting a mirror into his hands. 


THE RETURN TO CAMP 


147 


Grasping the mirror, the king gave one look, 
and then dropped it in horror at what he had 
seen. 

“Where can I hide myself!” he cried. “How 
can I show myself in the light of day! Cruel 
woman, what have I ever done to deserve this 
misfortune at your hands 

But the wicked old woman only laughed at his 
misery. 

“No one disobeys me without paying dearly 
for doing so. I now* have the honor to wish you 
pleasant dreams,” she added, mockingly, as she 
disappeared. 

King Prestante fell senseless to the floor. 
When he recovered his senses he found himself 
in bed in his own palace. Everything was just 
as it had been before the war, except his face. 
His faithful servants were about him, but they 
were sorrowful and avoided looking at him as 
much as possible. He was free and once more 
a king, but his mirror showed him at what a 
price ! 

As the years came and went, he became more 
reconciled to his misfortune, which he never al- 
lowed to interfere with his duties to his people. 
His first care was to restore his people to pros- 
perity and happiness. He then reorganized the 


148 THE ITALIAN FAMILY ROBINSON 


army, which King Furibondo and his soldiers 
had so thoroughly defeated. 

His life was comparatively happy, for he had 
little time to grieve over his ugly face. His one 
great grief was that no queen shared his throne 
and that he had no son who would reign after 
his death. He was so sure that no one would 
care to marry him that he had never asked any- 
one to do so. 

One morning, however, a most unexpected 
thing happened. One of the court ladies pre- 
sented herself before the king, who was now 
called King Double, and said, 

‘‘Your majesty, it is said that you wish very 
much for a queen, but that you fear to ask any 
of the ladies of your court. I wish to say that I 
will cheerfully share your throne and be your 
queen.” 

King Double was so surprised that for a few 
minutes he could not speak. 

“But my queen must love me,” he said at 
length. “How can you love me when you look 
at this hideous face I carry .^” he asked. 

“Beauty of face is only skin deep, your majesty,” 
she replied. “I love you because you are good, 
loyal, generous and brave.” 

“If that is true,” said King Double, “you shall 


THE RETURN TO CAMP 149 

be my queen, and I shall do my.best to make you 
a happy one.” 

Soon after this, King Double was married to 
the court lady, amid the rejoicing of his people. 

In the course of time a little daughter was 
born to them, but alas! this unfortunate little 
princess was found to be just as ugly as her 
father. 

At first the king and the queen were very un- 
happy about their little daughter, but in the 
course of time they forgot their grief, hoping 
that, as the king had found a wife, so the 
princess would find a husband. 

At the age of eighteen the princess, who had 
been given the name of Goldmouth because of 
her pleasant speech, was very charming in spite 
of her peculiar face. Besides a love for music 
and the other arts, she took great pleasure in all 
kinds of exercise, especially in horseback riding, 
swimming, and hunting. But though she had 
many attractive qualities both of mind and heart, 
nobody wanted her for a wife. 

Soon after her eighteenth birthday, it happened 
that Princess Goldmouth found herself alone in 
the forest while hunting the wild boar. As she 
rode along, a large wolf came running toward her 
howling piteously, as though in great pain. She 


150 THE ITALIAN FAMILY ROBINSON 


could easily have killed the animal, but being 
moved to pity she observed it carefully. She 
soon found that it was severely wounded by the 
shot of an inexperienced hunter. 

The Princess permitted the wolf to follow her 
to the palace, where she placed him in the care 
of the royal veterinary surgeon. In a few days 
the wolf was nearly well, thanks to this doctor’s 
skill and to the gentle care of the princess. 

One morning, when the wolf had almost en- 
tirely recovered. Princess Goldmouth, by acci- 
dent, saw herself in a mirror — something that 
had not happened since her childhood. 

“I had almost forgotten how ugly I am!” 
she exclaimed, weeping. “Unhappy me! No 
one will ever want to marry me!” 

Just then a cold nose rubbed against her hand. 
She looked up, and there was the wolf, licking 
her fingers like a dog with his warm red tongue, 
and looking gratefully at her with his mournful 
brown eyes. 

“My good wolf,” she said, patting his head, “I 
wonder, if you were a handsome young prince, 
whether you would like me so much. You do 
not seem to mind looking at me.” 

The wolf put his front paws on her lap and 
then, to her great surprise, he said : 


THE RETURN TO CAMP 


151 


“If I were a handsome young prince, instead 
of a poor wounded wolf, would you marry me?” 

The princess looked with astonishment at the 
wolf, saying, 

“Who ever heard of a wolf talking?” 

“I am not a wolf,” he replied, “but King 
Manfred, changed into this form by the hatred 
of a wicked magician. When you patted my 
head so kindly you partly broke the spell. If 
you will now stroke my head the wrong way of the 
fur, I shall be restored to my natural form.” 

Princess Goldmouth at once did as the wolf 
requested, and almost instantly the wolf dropped 
his rough skin and King Manfred stood before 
her, handsome and smiling. 

“Now, will you marry me?” he cried, dropping 
on one knee before her. 

“But do you not understand?” cried the 
princess. “Don’t you see that I have three eyes, 
two noses, and two mouths?” 

“You are mistaken, dear princess,” he said. 
“Look again in the mirror.” 

Princess Goldmouth did so and there, smiling 
back at her from the mirror, was the most beauti- 
ful young woman she had ever seen! 

Almost beside herself with joy, she hastened in 
search of her parents. But who can describe her 


152 THE ITALIAN FAMILY ROBINSON 

delight, when she found that her father’s deform- 
ity had suddenly disappeared also. 

The marriage of King Manfred and Princess 
Goldmouth was shortly afterwards celebrated 

and ... 

“They lived happy ever after.^” asked Junius. 
“Exactly,” said Salvator, laughing; “just as 
we shall after we move to the new camp. And 
now, since we must rise early to-morrow I think 
with Doctor Paul that we should all go to bed.” 

An hour later all were sleeping soundly in their 
tents. The only guard was Fido, for even Spot 
and Fox were asleep. 


CHAPTER XIII 

LIFE IN THE NEW CAMP 

The next morning everyone in the camp rose 
very early and, just as soon as breakfast was over, 
they began their preparations to leave camp. 

While Madame Paul, Selena, and Giselda were 
packing the clothing, dishes, and cooking utensils 
so that they could be put in the boat. Doctor 
Paul, Salvator, and Cyrus made half a dozen 
trips to the Tirreno, bringing back large quantities 
of provisions and other useful stores. 

On going aboard the ship they were surprised 
to find the cow not only alive, but her condition 
so much improved that Salvator suggested that 
they give her a chance to get ashore. This they 
did by lowering the cow from the deck into the 
sea by a strong rope and the ship’s windlass, just 
before they were ready to leave with the last 
boat load of provisions. The cow, swimming 
steadily, followed the boat to land, where, after 
scrambling on shore, it limped to the clearing 
and began cropping the grass as though nothing 
had happened. 


154 THE ITALIAN FAMILY ROBINSON 

There was a good breeze blowing toward the 
shore, all that day, so that by hoisting their sail, 
they did not need to row on the t^'ips back 
from the Tirreno. This saved them a good deal 
of time and work. Before dark, everything was 
ready for the start by daybreak next morning. 

To Salvator’s delight the wind was still blowing 
when he rose next morning. “With this wind in 
our sail,” he said to Cyrus, “we shall be able to 
take the first boat load to the new camp and 
return for Doctor and Madame Paul and the 
children before noon.” 

Within an hour Salvator and Cyrus had started, 
accompanied by Selena and Junius, carrying, in 
addition to the two tents, the bedding, and some 
kitchen supplies. 

By ten o’clock they had reached the little bay 
at the other side of the island and had safely 
landed everything that was in the boat. 

“Now, Cyrus, my boy,” said Salvator, “you 
must stay here with Selena and Junius, while I 
return for the rest of the family and whatever else 
I can get into the boat. While I am gone, you 
three must work as hard as you can to put up- 
the tents and arrange the beds for to-night. And, 
Selena, be sure to have dinner ready for us when 
we come back, for we shall all be very hungry. 


LIFE IN THE NEW CAMP 


155 


Junius can help you by gathering wood for the 
fire and bringing water from the spring.” 

“All right, Salvator, we’ll all do our best,” said 
Cyrus. 

Salvator then returned to the old camp, rowing 
part of the way and sailing the rest. 

Upon his arrival he found that Doctor and 
Madame Paul with Giselda and baby Marie were 
all ready, waiting for him. Doctor Paul had 
watered and fed the animals, giving them the 
last of the water brought from the Tirreno, so 
that they would be all right until they could be 
taken, later, to the new camp. 

When everybody was safely in the boat and all 
the bundles and provisions which could be car- 
ried had been put aboard, the boat was headed 
again for the new camp. Salvator and Doctor 
Paul took turns rowing and steering and, with 
the help of the wind in their one sail, they reached 
the new camp before three o’clock. 

Cyrus and Selena had done much during Sal- 
vator’s absence. The two tents had been set up 
and the beds arranged for the night. A fire 
had been made, for which Junius had collected 
a large pile of wood, and on a white cloth spread 
on the grass a hearty lunch of fried fish, bread, 
and coffee was waiting for them. 


156 THE ITALIAN FAMILY ROBINSON 


“Well done/’ said Salvator to Cyrus. “I see 
that you and Selena and Junius have not been 
idle.” 

“Do let us eat,” said Madame Paul, “I am so 
hungry, and that fish smells delicious!” 

“Where did you get the fish.^” inquired Doctor 
Paul, as they sat down. 

“From the beach, sir,” said Selena. “There 
were thousands of them jumping and squirming 
on the sand.” 

“Just where we saw so many two days ago, 
Salvator,” said Cyrus. 

“Well, Madame Paul, how do you like your 
new camp.^” inquired Salvator, after a few 
mouthfuls. 

“I think it is the most beautiful spot I ever 
saw,” she replied. 

“Just wait, mother, until we have built our 
house and dug our turtle pond,” said Cyrus, 
laughing. 

“And just think, mother, there are whole 
groves of banana trees, just back of the camp!” 
cried Junius, who was very fond of this fruit. 

After they had finished eating, Madame Paul 
went with Cyrus and Selena to see the pool in 
the grotto, while Doctor Paul and Salvator made 
some repairs to their boat, which still had to 


LIFE IN THE NEW CAMP 


157 


carry many heavy loads from the old camp. And 
while they worked, they talked over their plans 
for the future. 

They both agreed that they should proceed at 
once to build a substantial house and a shelter for 
the animals, and that they would surround both 
by a high palisade, strong enough to resist attack. 

They decided also to make an inventory of all 
their belongings, as soon as everything had been 
brought from the old camp, so that they would 
know just where they stood. 

Fortunately, there was an abundance of food, 
apart from what they could raise themselves. 
The sea was rich in fish; turtles, following Sal- 
vator’s plan, were easy to capture; and game 
abounded in the woods. Moreover, wood for fuel 
and building was all about them and, best of all, 
there was plenty of sweet fresh water. 

“I tell you, we are in luck!” said Doctor Paul 
that night when, work ended for the day, they 
sat looking at the sunset after supper. 

“I think we are,” said Madame Paul. “Al- 
ready I am so much better and stronger that I 
feel like another person. I am no longer nervous 
and afraid, and I believe that we can live here 
very comfortably until the good God sends a ship 
to take us all back to Italy.” 


158 THE ITALIAN FAMILY ROBINSON 


“I would rather live here than in Italy,” said 
Junius. “I have much more fun, here.” 

“Well, Junius,” said Doctor Paul, laughing, 
“as you will probably not see Italy again for 
some time, you needn’t worry. . . . Meanwhile 
it is time for everybody to go to bed.” So after 
the usual evening prayers, they all retired with 
contented hearts. 

The next fifteen days were very busy ones. 
During this time, the rest of their belongings, 
and all the animals, including the cow, were 
brought from the old camp, the house was built, 
and a good shelter for the animals. They still 
had to make the palisade around the buildings. 

The house had four rooms, — two large bed- 
rooms, a kitchen for Selena, and a large living 
room. The roof was covered with sailcloth which 
Salvator had oiled to make it waterproof. On 
the top of the sailcloth was a thatch of palm 
leaves. Each room was well lighted and venti- 
lated from a large window opening which, in 
rainy weather, could be closed with pieces of 
sailcloth, — as, of course,' they had no glass. 

The shed for the animals had been divided by 
partitions, so that the chickens, pigeons, pigs, 
sheep, and goats had their own clean and com- 
fortable quarters. The cow, which had been 


LIFE IN THE NEW CAMP 


159 


driven through the woods from the old camp, 
was killed for food, as she had stopped giving 
milk. 

And now commenced for the shipwrecked 
family a regular and fairly contented life, except 
for the fact that on a foreign shore, even in the 
midst of abundance and comfort, one always 
longs for the fatherland. 

In the mornings, the men hunted in the neigh- 
boring forest, or fished. They also took turns in 
cultivating the field of corn and the garden near 
the house, in which they had already planted 
several kinds of vegetables and herbs. Madame 
Paul, who was now in the best of health, took 
charge of the house with the help of Selena and 
Giselda. Junius had charge of the chickens, 
besides helping Cyrus to care for the larger 
animals. 

After the midday meal. Doctor Paul instructed 
the children in reading, arithmetic, geography, 
and writing. In addition, during the walks they 
took, the children learned a great deal about the 
flowers and animals and other things to be seen 
on the island. The evenings were spent in read- 
ing aloud from one of their few books, or in 
listening to the wonderful stories told by Salvator. 
As they had very few candles, they all went to 


160 THE ITALIAN FAMILY ROBINSON 

bed soon after sunset. Bedtime was always 
preceded by prayers. 

One morning soon after sunrise, Cyrus and 
Salvator started out hunting. 

They had reached the top of the hill back of 
the camp, when Salvator, who had been looking 
seaward, turned suddenly, saying: 

“Hand me the spyglass, Cyrus.” 

“Here it is,” replied Cyrus, pulling it out of 
his pocket. “Do you see anything unusual.^” 

“Yes,” replied Salvator. “Look yonder toward 
the east,” he added, handing the glass to Cyrus, 
and at the same time pointing to a black spot 
on the horizon that seemed to be growing larger. 

“It is a canoe!” exclaimed Cyrus, “and it is 
headed this way,” he added. 

“I do not think it will ever get here,” said 
Salvator, following it with his eyes. 

“Why not.^” 

“Because it is headed straight for yonder reef, 
and with this strong wind it will surely be dashed 
against the rocks. Let us hasten down to the 
point,” he added. “We may be of some use.” 

When they reached the point, they couM 
plainly see the two occupants of the canoe, which 
was now rapidly approaching in the direction of 
the point. They were of a dark brown color. 


LIFE IN THE NEW CAMP 


161 


and very short. They handled the canoe with 
great ability. Skillfully avoiding the rocky reef, 
they advanced rapidly to the land. A minute 
or two later, the canoe grated on the beach and 
the two rowers fell exhausted in the bottom of 
the boat. 

“Let us pull the canoe up on the beach, Cyrus, 
and then, while I try to revive the rowers, you 
run to the cabin for your father,” said Salvator. 

Cyrus returned in a few minutes, accompanied 
by his father. They found Salvator apparently 
much disturbed over the rowers, who were young 
women about twenty years old, evidently belong- 
ing to a tribe of savage dwarfs. 

The two young savages, who quickly revived 
under Doctor Paul’s treatment, were then led to 
the house, where Madame Paul and Selena re- 
ceived them with every possible kindness. 

“Where shall we put them.^” inquired Cyrus. 

“I really don’t know,” said Doctor Paul. 

“Let us put them in the storehouse,” suggested 
Cyrus. 

Just a few days before, Salvator, aided by 
Cyrus, had finished building a small storehouse 
in which they had placed all the articles from the 
Tirreno which were not already in use. 

“That is a good idea,” said Doctor Paul. 


162 THE ITALIAN FAMILY ROBINSON 

The young dwarfs were of a mild, docile dis- 
position. In spite of the fact that they could not 
understand what was said to them, they tried to 
make themselves useful, and Junius, who seldom 
left them, tried to teach them some words of 
Italian. 

A couple of weeks passed in this manner, the 
settlers, save for their watchfulness over the 
dwarfs, being occupied in their usual pursuits. 

One morning, as Salvator was walking along 
the beach, he noticed that the canoe was not in 
its usual place. Who could have moved it.^ 

A suspicion suddenly flashed across his mind 
and, looking out to sea, he saw the canoe fast 
receding from the shore. 

“How stupid I was not to destroy their canoe!” 
he exclaimed aloud. 

Running back to the storehouse, he found that 
not only had the dwarfs escaped with the canoe, 
but that they had taken with them many useful 
articles. 

Seeing that Salvator was much disturbed over 
the flight of the dwarfs, Cyrus asked, “Why are 
you so sorry that the dwarfs have left us.^ I 
should think you would be glad, for mother said 
they were of very little use to her and Selena. 
And then, they ate so much!” he added. 


LIFE IN THE NEW CAMP 


163 


“The question, Cyrus, is not about their being 
useful to us, but what effect their return will 
have among their own tribe when they see the 
fine iron tools and other things which the two 
women carried with them. They will learn that 
we are here on the island, that we have many 
useful articles, and that our camp is guarded by 
only two grown men. I feel very sure that be- 
fore long the fighting men of that tribe will come 
in great numbers to attack us.” 

“Suppose they do attack us,” said Cyrus. 
“How could such little fellows harm us.^” 

“Size has very little to do with the matter,” 
said Salvator, gravely. “Remember what your 
father told Junius and Giselda the other day 
about disease germs, which are so small that they 
can hardly be seen with the microscope, and 
which, nevertheless, do the greatest harm in the 
world. I am afraid these ‘little fellows’ will 
swarm here in such hordes, armed with spears 
and bows and arrows, that we shall hardly be 
able to hold our own. I greatly fear that the old 
stories of the dwarf warriors will prove to be true.” 

Returning to the camp, they told Doctor Paul 
what had happened and of the threatened danger. 
But, following his advice, they did not tell the 
rest of the family. 


164 THE ITALIAN FAMILY ROBINSON 

“Even though we can not hide the escape of 
the two dwarfs, there is no need to let them know 
that we fear an attack,’’ said Dr. Paul. 

Meanwhile, they at once took steps to prepare 
for the worst. They began by strengthening the 
palisade, and then, at Salvator’s suggestion, they 
built a second palisade some distance outside of 
the first. When, in little more than a month, the 
second palisade was finished, they felt much safer. 
A few days after, however, they were startled by 
an unexpected event that might easily have had 
fatal consequences. 

One afternoon it was suddenly noticed that 
Junius was missing from the camp. To the 
anxious questioning of his mother, Cyrus could 
only reply that no one had seen Junius since 
noon. 

“Where can he be.^” cried Madame Paul, in 
alarm. 

“He cannot be far away,” said Cyrus. “I shall 
go at once in search of him. Now don’t worry, 
mother,” he added, as he started for the beach. 

Halfway to the water Cyrus heard a scream 
from Selena, who had gone to the beach a few 
minutes ahead of him. 

“Look, look!” she cried, as Cyrus joined her. 
“Look where Junius is!” She pointed seaward. 


LIFE IN THE NEW CAMP 


165 


and there was Junius, crouching in terror at the 
bottom of the boat, which was slowly drifting out 
to sea. 

Cyrus shouted loudly for Salvator, who with 
Doctor Paul at his heels rushed to the beach, 
where the rest soon followed him. Cyrus had 
already taken off his shoes and jacket and was 
about to plunge into the sea, when Salvator 
brushed him aside and, without removing his 
clothes, started after Junius, swimming with long, 
steady strokes. 

“Keep Cyrus on shore,” he shouted, as he 
plunged into the water. “I know the sea better 
than any of you, and if anything can be done, 
I am the one to do it. Let no one follow me.” 

The frantic mother, Selena, and Giselda knelt 
on the sand, sobbing and praying, while Doctor 
Paul held Cyrus, who was struggling to go to his 
brother’s aid. 

“You need not hold me, father,” said Cyrus, at 
last. “I will obey Salvator and remain here quietly. 
But if our good old friend should perish because 
of his devotion to us, how we shall all suffer!” 

“Salvator is right, Cyrus,” answered his father. 
“He is one of the best swimmers in existence, and 
if anything can be done, he is indeed the one 
who can do it.” 


166 THE ITALIAN FAMILY ROBINSON 

“The sharks! Look, Doctor! Look! There are 
two — three — four ! ” shrieked Selena. 

“Oh! May the good God protect him!” 
murmured Madame Paul, still on her knees. 

“God will protect him, Adelaide,” said Doctor 
Paul. “See! He is only a few yards from the 
boat! Now he grasps the side! He is half out 
of the water! Now he makes a spring! Thank 
God! He is in the boat at last,” he added 
joyfully. 

“They are saved! They are saved!” cried 
Madame Paul, who had watched every move. 

Doctor Paul, knowing that both Salvator and 
Junius were not yet out of danger, made no reply. 

As soon as he had climbed into the boat, 
Salvator, who knew that some man-eating sharks 
would not hesitate to attack a small boat, took 
the oars and began to work his way out of the 
reefs, which were numerous and jagged. 

The task was difficult, especially as water was 
coming into the boat, it having already been 
pierced by the point of one of the rocks. Stop- 
ping for a moment, Salvator plugged the hole 
with his neckerchief and scooped out most of 
the water with his two hands. Junius, too 
terrified to move, looked at him without saying 
a word. 




168 THE ITALIAN FAMILY ROBINSON 

The boat having been bailed out, Salvator 
again took the oars and pulled rapidly for shore. 
The perspiration stood in big drops on his fore- 
head, and his face, usually so ruddy and smiling, 
was pale and serious. He, better than anyone 
else, understood the danger. A single movement 
of Junius, a false stroke of the oars, a little more 
water in the boat, which was still leaking, and 
they would be in the midst of the sharks which 
were still all about them. 

As he rowed, he splashed the water as much 
as he could, shouting to those on shore to throw 
stones into the water to frighten away the sharks 
nearest the shore. 

Apparently this plan was successful, as the 
splashing caused them to turn away from the 
shore. Seeing this, Salvator threw himself out 
of the boat, which was now nearly half full of 
water, and with the rope between his teeth, 
swam the short distance still remaining, reach- 
ing the shore just as the boat was about to 
sink. Junius was saved! 

When the child’s terror had somewhat abated, 
he was asked why he had gone to sea in the 
boat. 

“I wanted to go around the island to the 
other side, to get some cocoanuts from the old 


LIFE IN THE NEW CAMP 


169 


camp/’ he sobbed. “I was sure that I could 
get back in time for dinner without anyone 
knowing.” 

“I hope you see, my dear Junius, that your 
trip would not have turned out just that way,” 
said his father sternly. “You may thank Heaven 
and our good Salvator that you are again with 
us, safe and sound. If help had come a few 
minutes later you would either have made a 
fine dinner for some of the sharks, or you would 
have been carried out to sea. Let this be a 
lesson to you,” he added. 

At these words Junius threw himself into his 
mother’s arms and promised faithfully that he 
would never, never be disobedient again. He 
followed the others into the house and, after a 
good plate of soup instead of the cocoanuts for 
which he had stupidly risked his life, both he 
and Salvator were none the worse of their peril- 
ous adventure. 


CHAPTER XIV 


THE ENEMY APPEARS IN FORCE 

Several days later, Salvator and Cyrus started 
at dawn on a fishing trip. 

As Salvator was pushing the boat into the 
water, he noticed a number of black spots far 
out at sea which caused him to straighten up 
quickly and look fixedly into the distance. 

“What are you looking at, Salvator.^” asked 
Cyrus. 

“Those black specks on the horizon,” answered 
Salvator. “Don’t you see them, Cyrus.^” 

“I can’t see anything unusual. You must be 
mistaken, Salvator.” 

“I am not mistaken,” said Salvator, “and — ” 

“And what.^” interrupted Cyrus. 

Danger'' said Salvator, “which, although still 
many miles away, is approaching rapidly.” 

“Danger,” echoed Cyrus. “Do you mean the 
savages.^” 

“I am afraid so,” was the answer. “Let me 
have the spyglass. . . . There is no doubt of 


THE ENEMY APPEARS IN FORCE 171 

it; look for yourself,” he concluded, handing the 
glass back to Cyrus. 

At that moment the sun rose above the 
mists of early morning. 

“Yes,” answered Cyrus. “I can see that your 
‘ black specks ’ are canoes and that there are 
about twenty of them.” 

The boy spoke calmly and did not betray the 
anxiety he felt. 

“How many men do you suppose there are in 
each canoe .^” he asked. 

“Ten at least, and not more than fifteen at 
the most, I should say,” replied the old sailor. 

“Then, if we say twelve in each, that would 
mean about two hundred and forty: quite an 
army.” 

“And they may be only an advance guard,” 
said Salvator. 

“An advance guard!” exclaimed Cyrus. 

“Yes. These twenty canoes may be only the 
advance guard of a much larger army. We 
shall soon see, however. Fortunately our two 
palisades will enable us to hold out for many 
weeks. Meanwhile,” he continued, talking more 
to himself than to Cyrus, “since the danger 
comes from the sea, so from the sea may come 
relief, — if any is to come.” Then after a pause 


172 THE ITALIAN FAMILY ROBINSON 

he continued, “The savages are very skillful in 
making fire and they will probably try to burn 
our palisade. But we must not allow them to 
come near enough to do that.” 

“Do you think they belong to the same 
tribe as our two escaped prisoners.^” asked 
Cyrus. 

“Exactly,” said Salvator. “Those two young 
dwarfs told the rest of the tribe all about us.” 

By this time they had returned to the camp 
— pulling the boat between them. As soon as 
they had got it inside the first palisade, they 
fastened the gate securely and went on into the 
house. Salvator immediately found Doctor Paul, 
to whom he told* the unpleasant news. 

“Let us call the rest of the family,” said Doc- 
tor Paul, “and decide just what we will do to 
resist the attack.” 

Soon Madame Paul and Selena, pale and 
frightened, with Junius and Giselda, were seated 
at the table. 

“Now let us all be as brave as possible,” said 
Doctor Paul, as he finished telling them of the 
threatened danger. “It will be a terrible fight, 
but with God’s help we shall be victorious, if 
we each do our part.” 

“You are right. Doctor,” said Salvator. “The 


THE ENEMY APPEARS IN FORCE 


173 


fight will be a terrible one, but I am certain the 
victory will be ours. At the worst, we can hold 
the savages at bay for a long time, and if we 
should at last be compelled to yield, we shall all 
die defending ourselves.” 

“Cheer up,” said Cyrus, speaking for the first 
time. “We three men, with Selena — who is 
almost as strong as a man, and quite as brave — 
will take care of all the savages, no matter how 
many there are. Don’t forget that we have six 
guns and plenty of ammunition, while the 
savages have none.” 

“Bravo, my boy,” said Salvator: “that is the 
spirit I like to see.” 

“And do you believe, Salvator,” asked the 
Doctor’s wife, pale and trembling with emotion, 
“that the savages will come in such great 
numbers.^” 

“Alas, Madame! I fear they will. But let 
us not despair. The good God never abandoned 
those who put their trust in Him.” 

“Should it come to the worst, Salvator,” 
implored the good lady, “I beg of you not to 
let us fall alive into the hands of the canni- 
bals.” 

“For the present there is no question of dying 
or of being devoured by cannibals, but of de- 


174 


THE ITALIAN FAMH^Y ROBINSON 


fending ourselves. I would not be surprised if 
the savages returned to their islands thoroughly 
frightened after they hear our gun-fire/’ said 
Doctor Paul. 

“God grant it may turn out so!” exclaimed 
Madame Paul. “At any rate, you may count 
on me and on Selena, also, to load the guns and 
to help you in every possible way.” 

“Splendid!” exclaimed Salvator. “Now let 
us all prepare to give the enemy a warm 
reception.” 

First, they rolled a number of casks from the 
storehouse and placed them alongside the outer 
palisade. Upon these they placed a number of 
planks so as to form a kind of platform inside. 
By standing on this platform, those inside the 
palisade would be able to fire into the attacking 
party without themselves being exposed to 
danger. 

Cyrus, Giselda, and Selena drove within the 
palisade all the chickens and other animals that 
were outside. They also brought several loads of 
corn and vegetables from the field and garden. 
There was a good spring of water inside the 
palisade, just behind the house, and, as the store- 
house was well stocked, they had food enough to 
last many weeks. 


THE ENEMY APPEARS IN FORCE 175 

“Fine!” said Salvator, when he saw what 
the young folks had accomplished. 

From time to time, Madame Paul went out 
to look seaward. Returning from one of these 
trips, she reported that the canoes were then not 
more than a mile or two from shore. 

“Then,” said Doctor Paul, “it is time we all 
ate some food, for it may be some time before 
we can again stop to do so.” 

They ate in silence. Their minds were too 
busy to allow conversation. 

When they had finished, Salvator and Cyrus 
climbed up to the roof to observe better the 
movements of the enemy, whose canoes were 
now rapidly nearing the shore. 

“Let them come on,” said Cyrus; “we are 
ready for them. Do you think they will dis- 
cover our channel through the reefs into the 
bay.^” he asked. 

“They probably know that channel as well as 
we do,” answered Salvator. “See!” he added. 
“The first canoe is entering now, without the 
least hesitation or delay. I should not be sur- 
prised if our two former visitors were in that 
canoe, acting as guides for the party.” 

“Very likely,” said Cyrus, as he scanned the 
sea with his glasses. “But wait a moment,” 


176 THE ITALIAN FAMILY ROBINSON 

he added. “I see something in the distance that 
looks like a sail!” 

“It probably belongs to one of the canoes 
that lagged behind and is now trying to catch 
up,” said Salvator. “But let us get down from 
the roof at once.” 


CHAPTER XV 


THE ATTACK 

From the outer palisade Cyrus and Salvator 
watched the approach of the enemy through a 
sort of loophole, carefully concealed from outside 
view. From time to time they heard defiant 
shouts coming from the direction of the beach. 
They were the voices of the savages in the more 
advanced canoes who, filled with the desire to 
attack the inhabitants of the camp and secure 
their goods, were already landing. 

‘‘See,” said Salvator, “the first canoe has 
touched shore. The enemy has begun to land. 
I feel certain that the two girls who ran away 
from us must be in the front ranks as guides, 
although I have not seen them as yet.” 

“I see them plainly,” exclaimed Cyrus. “Look! 
There they are, one on either side of that dwarf, a 
little taller than the rest. Do you see him.? The 
one whose head is covered with feathers,” he added. 

“I see him, and the women as well,” said 
Salvator. . . . “But the vanguard stops. Ap- 


178 . THE ITALIAN FAMILY ROBINSON 


parently they are consulting among themselves. 
That little monster with the plumes must be the 
leader, and the savages with whom he is speak- 
ing are probably warriors of the first rank, — 
members of the savage aristocracy,” continued 
Salvator. “The next division is composed of 
warriors of the second rank, and some distance 
behind come the slaves. See them gesticulate! 
And hear them yell! Now they have evidently 
decided on a plan! In a moment we shall hear 
their battle cry.” 

“Why not greet their arrival with some musket 
shots .^” suggested Cyrus. 

“No, my boy,” replied the older man; “it is not 
for us to begin the bloodshed. We shall not fire 
at them until they discharge their arrows at us.” 

“But suppose they should retire without at- 
tacking us at all.^” suggested Doctor Paul. 

“No such luck as that,” said Salvator. “But 
I know a way to make them decide,” he added. 
As he spoke, he mounted the platform, so that 
the upper part of his body appeared above the 
palisade. 

His appearance was greeted by a shout from 
the savages, followed immediately by a shower 
of arrows which struck the palisade just as 
Salvator dropped to the ground again. 


THE ATTACK 


179 


“Now may we fire through the loopholes?” 
asked Cyrus, impatiently. 

“Yes, my boy. But first let each of us select 
his target.” 

“I shall fire into the group on the left near 
the tallest cocoanut palm,” said Cyrus, taking 
careful aim. 

“Good! And I shall fire at the group near 
the opening of the path that leads to the corn- 
field,” said Salvator, also taking aim. 

But a shot preceded the shots of Cyrus and 
Salvator, and the leader of the savages, the one 
whose head was adorned with colored feathers, 
fell to earth like a log, struck full in the breast 
by a bullet from the Doctor’s gun. 

“ Bravo, Doctor Paul ! A fine shot ! ” cried Salva- 
tor. “You have begun splendidly. May we have 
as good aim,” he added. Then, firing together, 
Cyrus and he brought down two more dwarfs. 

The three continued to fire just as rapidly as 
Madame Paul and Selena could load the empty 
guns. 

Giselda meanwhile was inside the house car- 
ing for Marie, while Junius contented himself 
with watching through a loophole the effects of 
the shooting. 

After fifteen minutes of rapid shooting on both 


180 THE ITALIAN FAMILY ROBINSON 

sides, the savages, dismayed at their losses, re- 
tired to the beach in disorder, where their leaders 
collected in a group, apparently to parley. Their 
harsh voices could be distinctly heard inside the 
palisade, although nothing could be understood 
of what they were saying. 

In order to watch the savages better, Salvator 
climbed up to the roof again, from which point 
he informed the others of what was going on. 

“Our enemies are holding a council of war. 
The warriors are seated in a circle around their 
leaders, deliberating, while the slaves are pre- 
paring a meal. There must be at least two 
hundred warriors, altogether,” he ’announced. 
“The shore of the island is black with them. 

“I do not believe they will attack us again, 
to-day,” he continued. “But we must watch 
their every movement. These savages are very 
daring and, in my opinion, this is not their first 
fight with civilized people. Let us keep well 
on our guard.” 

“I noticed, too,” said Doctor Paul, “that they 
were not so terribly frightened by the report of 
our guns as I expected them to be. I rather 
think you are right, therefore, in believing that 
they have dealt with white people before.” 

“However that may be,” said Salvator, “we 


THE ATTACK 


181 


must think now of ourselves. As I said, I do 
not think the next assault will be made until to- 
morrow. They may, however, attempt to climb 
the palisade to-night. If one or two managed to 
get over in the darkness, they could easily open 
the gate to the others, and then it would be all 
up with us. I think, therefore, that as soon as it 
is dark, we should make a bonfire big enough to 
light up the whole enclosure between the two 
palisades. Then, by taking turns in watching from 
the roof, we can prevent a disagreeable surprise.” 

“But do you not think,” said Doctor Paul, 
“that a bonfire will enable the savages to watch 
our movements while they themselves remain 
in shadow.^” 

“Undoubtedly it will,” Salvator replied, “but 
of the two evils, the bonfire is the lesser, it seems 
to me. The most important thing for us to do 
is to prevent the enemy from getting inside the 
palisade. I am sure you agree with me in this. 
Doctor Paul,” said Salvator, firmly. 

“As usual, you are right, Salvator,” he re- 
plied. 

Cyrus, Junius, and Giselda at once proceeded 
to gather wood in readiness for the bonfire, while 
Salvator and Doctor Paul alternately kept watch 
on the roof. Madame Paul and Selena, mean- 


182 


THE ITALIAN FAMILY ROBINSON 


while, prepared a substantial meal of which they 
all partook, Cyrus relieving the watcher on the 
roof so that he, also, could eat. 

Shortly before sunset a series of blood-curdling 
yells from the savages prepared them for a new 
assault. 

Salvator immediately lighted the bonfire and, 
accompanied by Doctor Paul, repaired to the 
loopholes in the palisade. But whatever the 
reason, the expected attack was not made, Cyrus 
announcing from the roof, a little later, that the 
savages had again retired to the beach. 

That evening they all ate in silence and, though 
each one strove to appear calm and brave, it 
was plain that all were much distressed in mind. 
How long would they be able to resist.^ For 
what help could they hope, and whence was it 
to come? And in case of defeat, what sort of 
treatment awaited them? These questions were 
in the mind of each. 

Salvator made several attempts to change 
the current of anxious thought that occupied 
the minds of all. But he did not succeed, for 
no one felt like talking. 

The meal being ended, Salvator made arrange- 
ments for the night, which he divided into three 
watches. Cyrus was to mount guard on the 


THE ATTACK 


183 


roof during the first watch, Doctor Paul, during 
the second, and Salvator himself would take 
charge of the last, which would be just before 
daybreak. Those who were not on guard were 
to get as much sleep as possible. 

The night passed without any alarming inci- 
dent. At dawn, Salvator, with the help of the 
spyglass, began to observe the movements of 
the enemy, who were already moving about the 
beach in great activity. Soon Salvator was 
joined by Cyrus. 

‘‘They are all on the move, already. The 
beach is swarming with them,” he remarked, 
taking the glasses from Salvator. “But I can’t 
imagine what the women are doing! Numbers 
of them are kneeling on the ground, shaking 
their heads from right to left, making strange 
gestures, and swaying their bodies with the same 
movement.” 

“They are mourning their dead,” said Salva- 
tor, “according to the invariable custom of savage 
tribes the world over.” 

“But I do not see any bodies,” said Cyrus. 

“Without doubt they are in the canoes, ready 
to be taken back.” 

“I wonder when they will attack us again,” 
said Cyrus. 


184 THE ITALIAN FAMILY ROBINSON 

“Before long, I’m afraid,” said Salvator. “The 
leaders seem to be disputing just now,” he 
added, “but in the end they will come to an 
agreement.” 

Suddenly they heard a piercing shriek. Hastily 
descending, they found Selena half crazy with 
grief and alarm. 

“What ails you.^” demanded Salvator. “What 
has happened.^ Speak, for heaven’s sake!” 

“Junius ...” but she could not proceed for tears. 

“Speak, Selena,” said Doctor Paul, grasping 
the shoulder of the weeping girl. 

“Junius . . . has gone . . . outside the pali- 
sade!” she sobbed. 

“But how.^ Are you sure of what you say.^” 
exclaimed Salvator. 

“Yes, I am sure,” she replied. “Much to my 
alarm I found the palisade door open, a few 
minutes ago. I immediately closed and fastened 
it. Then, looking through the loophole, I saw 
Junius going into the cocoanut grove. I called 
him, but he would not look back.” 

“Oh, my poor Junius!” cried Madame Paul, 
who had been awakened by Selena’s scream. 
“What shall we do, now.^” she sobbed. 

For some minutes the mother wrung her 
hands in despair. 


THE ATTACK 


185 


One can imagine the effect of this news upon 
all. Salvator was the first to recover his pres- 
ence of mind. 

“There is but one way to save Junius,” he 
said. 

“And that.^^” inquired the mother, trembling 
with anxiety. 

“For me to go and search for him and to 
bring him back.” 

“I shall go,” said Cyrus, firmly. 

“No, no! I must go,” said Selena. “I should 
have kept closer watch of him.” 

“Silence!” said Doctor Paul, quietly; “it rests 
with me this time to snatch that little scamp 
from the jaws of death.” 

“I cannot permit it,” said Salvator, putting 
an end to this generous contest. “I, and I alone, 
will go. As soon as I go out, bar the palisade 
door and do not open it again until you hear 
either Junius’s voice or mine. If I can slip out 
without being seen by the savages, I may return 
with Junius before they attack. I shall start at 
once. And may the Lord protect us all until we 
meet again.” 

And providing himself with a stout wooden 
club, Salvator immediately left the enclosure. . . . 

Meanwhile, the savages made no signs of re- 


186 


THE ITALIAN FAMILY ROBINSON 


newing the attack. Doctor Paul watched their 
every movement through a loophole, and Madame 
Paul, standing beside him, watched his face closely 
for news. In this way a long, anxious hour passed. 

Suddenly they heard a shout of terror near by, 
followed by the confused sound of a desperate 
struggle. Thinking that he heard his brother’s 
voice and without thinking of the rashness of 
his act, Cyrus immediately rushed outside the 
palisade where, at a little distance to the right, 
he saw Salvator and Junius engaged in a desper- 
ate struggle with a score or more of the dwarfs, 
several of whom were already stretched sense- 
less on the ground. 

Salvator with his heavy stick and Junius with 
his feet and hands — a combination of kicks and 
blows — were already getting the best of it, when 
the sudden appearance of Cyrus decided the bat- 
tle. The brave lad, armed only with the unloaded 
gun he had seized as he left the house, rushed 
into the thick of the fight, dealing a series of 
heavy blows to right and left, wherever he could 
reach a head, an arm or a leg. He and Salvator 
looked like giants fighting a tribe of pigmies, 
and before many minutes had passed the dwarfs 
retired, completely beaten, carrying their wounded 
with them. 



. . . HE SAW SALVATOR AND JUNIUS ENGAGED IN A 


DESPERATE STRUGGLE . , 


188 


THE ITALIAN FAMILY ROBINSON 


“Let us get inside the palisade at once!” 
shouted Salvator. “There’s another swarm of 
them coming on the run!” 

Fortunately the distance to the palisade door 
was short, and Salvator and his two companions 
gained it in a few seconds. As soon as they were 
inside, they closed and barricaded the entrance. 
Meanwhile, Doctor Paul had begun firing on the 
approaching savages, in which Cyrus and Sal- 
vator joined so effectively that within half an 
hour the enemy had again retired to the beach. 

Calm being at last restored, Junius was stormed 
with questions. Everybody wanted to know 
why he had acted so foolishly. 

“There were no more bananas in the house 
and, as I like them, I went into the woods to 
cut some more,” he answered, simply. “I ex- 
pected to get back before the savages came up 
from the beach. And I got the finest bunch 
of bananas you ever saw! And to think I had 
to leave it outside the palisade,” he added, 
ruefully. 

“But did you not know that, by your foolish 
and disobedient act of opening the palisade door, 
you were exposing yourself and all the rest of 
us to the risk of being killed and eaten by the 
cannibals.^” said his father, sternly. 


THE ATTACK 


189 


“I did not think of that,” said Junius, hanging 
his head. “Anyway,” he added, “I’m not afraid 
of the dwarfs.” 

“Well, you may now go into the storehouse, 
by yourself, and think over what you have done,” 
said the Doctor. “I am ashamed of you, my 
boy, and I think you will be ashamed of your- 
self after you have reflected a while,” he added, 
as Junius with a most unwilling air started for 
the storehouse. 


CHAPTER X\ I 


THE RESCUE 

After the affair with Junius, the savages had 
withdrawn without making any further attempts 
against the besieged. Silence now reigned every- 
where, — in the enemy’s camp as well as behind 
the palisade. 

Our friends were constantly on the watch, 
however, fearing that the attack would be re- 
newed, as Salvator assured them that it was 
likely to be, at any moment. 

Before long, the old sailor, who was at his 
usual post on the roof, noticed that great prep- 
arations were being made by the savages for a 
grand attack The greater part of the warriors 
had been engaged for some time in gathering 
small dry fagots, which the rest of them heaped 
up on the beach as rapidly as possible. When a 
great number of these heaps had been made, the 
savages paused. Then, having bowed deeply to 
a huge pile of stones which had apparently 
been raised in honor of their dead, the dwarfs 


THE RESCUE 


191 


started for the palisade, each carrying a bundle 
of the dry sticks on his shoulder. 

Salvator, seeing these movements, was con- 
vinced that the dwarfs meant to set fire to the 
palisade and so burn them out. 

“Now, what are they going to do.^” asked 
Doctor Paul, as he joined Salvator. 

“The captains are once more debating, howl- 
ing and shouting,” said Salvator, “but I fear that 
they intend to burn us out. We shall soon see.” 

“They evidently intend to surround the outer 
palisade,” said Doctor Paul. “We cannot get to 
our guns too soon,” he added, as they hastily 
scrambled down from the roof. 

“Cyrus,” said Salvator, on reaching the 
ground, “take up your post at the loophole 
facing the beach, and fire into the savages just 
as fast as Selena can reload for you. Mean- 
while, you and I, Doctor, will do the same from 
loopholes facing the woods, in opposite directions. 
In this way we may do the enemy such damage 
that they will retire again in disorder. Madame 
Paul will reload for you and I will try to do my 
own reloading. . . . We certainly are in great 
danger. But, courage! Let us sell our lives 
as dearly as possible,” he added, to himself, as 
each took his appointed place. 


192 


THE ITALIAN FAMILY ROBINSON 


But scarcely had they fired their first round, 
when, at several different points, flames were seen 
rising above the palisade. The dwarfs had 
lighted the fagots, and the work of destruction 
planned during the night had begun. 

In a few moments, the besieged were obliged to 
retreat inside the inner palisade, and they had 
barely closed and barricaded the entrance before 
the savages, yelling and screaming, were inside 
the burning palisade. But they were unable to 
remain there long on account of the flames. 
Meanwhile, our friends were pouring a deadly 
hail of bullets into the ranks of dwarfs from 
behind the inner palisade. 

All at once, above the fierce clamor of the 
savages, the noise of firearms, and the crackling 
of the flames that were rapidly consuming the 
outer palisade, a still louder and more terrific 
noise was heard, followed immediately by the 
falling and crashing of a number of cocoanut 
palms near the beach. 

Both the besieged and the besiegers stopped, 
in dismay, to listen. Again and again the tre- 
mendous boom! was heard, followed by the crash- 
ing of trees and, finally, by groans of pain and 
howls of terror from the savages. 

Salvator, who had at once guessed what was 


THE RESCUE 


193 


going on, took advantage of the confusion among 
the dwarfs to climb to the roof and take a look 
seaward. 

“Hurrah!” he cried; “we are saved! What we 
hear are the guns of a ship which is anchored 
just outside the bay.” 

“Thank God!” cried Madame Paul. “They 
have come to our relief just in time.” 

“See!” cried Cyrus, who, with his father, had 
joined Salvator on the roof, “they are landing 
sailors in boats.” 

“And look how the savages are rushing to their 
canoes,” said Doctor Paul. “Three canoes filled 
with savages are already halfway to the channel. 
Oh! A cannon shot has sunk them all! Another 
boat loaded with sailors has just been lowered 
from the ship, and still another is being got 
ready,” he added, joyfully. 

“The savages fly. They are all now in their 
nut-shell canoes slipping like lizards between the 
rocks. Another crash! What a fine shot!” cried 
Cyrus. “Hurrah! Hurrah! We are saved!” he 
added, as they descended from the roof to give 
the good news to the others. 

The fire in the palisade, not having been fed, 
had now died down. There was not a single 
savage to be seen as Salvator, Doctor Paul, and 


194 THE ITALIAN FAMILY ROBINSON 

Cyrus stepped outside, and there was not one 
left on the island by the time the sailors, march- 
ing with firm step, reached the camp. And, 
wonders of wonders, there was Captain Sturla 
marching at their head! 

A few minutes later. Doctor Paul and his chil- 
dren fell into the arms of that good old friend. 
Salvator could not believe his eyes. 

“Yes, yes, my good Salvator,” cried the Cap- 
tain. “It is indeed I, safe and sound.” 

“But, my Captain, this is like a miracle,” 
stammered the old boatswain. “Tell us, please, 
how you were ever able to find us on this remote 
island.” 

“I will tell you,” said the Captain, seating 
himself beside Madame Paul, who was weeping 
with joy. “I regained consciousness on the morn- 
ing after my sailors took me away. Two days later 
a ship appeared, which came to our assistance as 
soon as we were seen. 

“We left the ship two weeks later in Van 
Diemen’s Land, a land blessed by God with rich 
vegetation and a healthful climate. There some 
friends took me to their small farm, where I 
stayed until I had fully recoved from the effects 
of the blow, and later, until I could find a vessel 
free to search for you. 


THE RESCUE 


195 


“By unexpected good fortune, a brig belong- 
ing to the owners of the Tirreno put into our 
bay badly in need of repairs, having weathered 
the same storms that shipwrecked our vessel. 
The captain and the second in command had 
both been lost overboard, and the crew, many 
of whom had sailed under me before, were only 
too glad to have me take command. They knew, 
too, that the owners would approve of my doing 
so. x\fter making the necessary repairs, we set 
sail and . . . here I am,” he concluded, smiling 
broadly. 

“But tell me how on earth you were able not 
only to find us, but to find us at just the right 
time!” exclaimed the wondering Salvator. 

“That is easily explained,” was the reply. 
“A few days ago, while sailing near a group of 
islands not very far from here, I observed a 
great number of canoes setting out. Approach- 
ing nearer, I saw that it was a most warlike 
expedition. My crew wanted to see the fight, 
thinking it was a war among the natives them- 
selves, and so we followed the expedition at some 
distance. Later, hearing musket shots and sus- 
pecting that white people were in trouble, we 
came in as near as we could. As soon as I saw 
what was going on, I gave the order to train the 


196 


THE ITALIAN FAMILY ROBINSON 


guns on the landing place and to fire. The rest 
you know,” he concluded, beaming. . . . 

Two days later. Captain Sturla’s brig was 
again on the high seas bound for Australia, this 
time carrying as passengers the devoted family 
which had so nearly fallen into the hands of 
the cannibal dwarfs. 

From the deck. Doctor Paul, his wife and chil- 
dren, Salvator and Selena surveyed for the last 
time the island on which they had worked and 
prayed and hoped, and which they were now 
leaving with something like regret. 

“Who knows,” murmured Madame Paul, 
“what lies before us? If it had not been for the 
savages, I could have been quite happy on the 
island,” she added. 

“We certainly shall never again own a coral 
island,” said her husband, smiling. 

“Nor a place where such delicious fruits grow,” 
sighed Junius. 

“We shall never find a land more rich and 
productive,” said Salvator. “But man was not 
created to live apart from the rest of humanity. 
We each have our mission to accomplish, our 
place to fill. Let us thank God who, after we 
had been cast away in the midst of the ocean, 
is now restoring us to the world again.” 


THE RESCUE 


197 


With waving handkerchiefs they bade a last 
farewell to the island, which soon disappeared in 
the distance. 

Less than a month later the castaways landed 
safely in Australia, where happiness and pros- 
perity awaited them. 

Soon afterward, Salvator shipped with Captain 
Sturla for another voyage, but not before re- 
lating many more of his wonderful stories for 
Junius’s benefit. None of them, however, were 
more wonderful, to Junius’s mind, than the story 
you have just finished reading. 




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